used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Here and there along the wall were pictures of saints; and at the end two candles burned before a kind of altar.
altarnounUS /ˈɔːltər/
the table in Christian churches where communion is given
From this reading Here and there along the wall were pictures of saints; and at the end two candles burned before a kind of altar.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I had an idea that I had been partly conscious, and had lain tossing giddily with a burning head, and a dreadful thirst through days and nights of fever.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Here and there along the wall were pictures of saints; and at the end two candles burned before a kind of altar.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
bedsnounUS /bedz/
plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I had an idea that I had been partly conscious, and had lain tossing giddily with a burning head, and a dreadful thirst through days and nights of fever.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Here and there along the wall were pictures of saints; and at the end two candles burned before a kind of altar.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
bonenounUS /boʊn/
rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading Here and there along the wall were pictures of saints; and at the end two candles burned before a kind of altar.
the act of burning something
From this reading I had an idea that I had been partly conscious, and had lain tossing giddily with a burning head, and a dreadful thirst through days and nights of fever.
candlesnounUS /ˈkændəlz/
plural of “candle” — stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading Here and there along the wall were pictures of saints; and at the end two candles burned before a kind of altar.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
clear-minded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
intentionally conceived
From this reading I had an idea that I had been partly conscious, and had lain tossing giddily with a burning head, and a dreadful thirst through days and nights of fever.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading I had an idea that I had been partly conscious, and had lain tossing giddily with a burning head, and a dreadful thirst through days and nights of fever.
increase twofold
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading I had an idea that I had been partly conscious, and had lain tossing giddily with a burning head, and a dreadful thirst through days and nights of fever.
eighteenadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːn/
being one more than seventeen
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Here and there along the wall were pictures of saints; and at the end two candles burned before a kind of altar.
enjoinedverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪnd/
past form of “enjoin” — issue an injunction
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection
From this reading I had an idea that I had been partly conscious, and had lain tossing giddily with a burning head, and a dreadful thirst through days and nights of fever.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
garbedadjectiveUS /ɡɑːrbd/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
giddilyadverb
in a giddy light-headed manner
From this reading I had an idea that I had been partly conscious, and had lain tossing giddily with a burning head, and a dreadful thirst through days and nights of fever.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had an idea that I had been partly conscious, and had lain tossing giddily with a burning head, and a dreadful thirst through days and nights of fever.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading I had an idea that I had been partly conscious, and had lain tossing giddily with a burning head, and a dreadful thirst through days and nights of fever.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here and there along the wall were pictures of saints; and at the end two candles burned before a kind of altar.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I had an idea that I had been partly conscious, and had lain tossing giddily with a burning head, and a dreadful thirst through days and nights of fever.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Here and there along the wall were pictures of saints; and at the end two candles burned before a kind of altar.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
set down according to a plan
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
lainverbUS /leɪn/
inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading I had an idea that I had been partly conscious, and had lain tossing giddily with a burning head, and a dreadful thirst through days and nights of fever.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading I had an idea that I had been partly conscious, and had lain tossing giddily with a burning head, and a dreadful thirst through days and nights of fever.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading I had an idea that I had been partly conscious, and had lain tossing giddily with a burning head, and a dreadful thirst through days and nights of fever.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading Here and there along the wall were pictures of saints; and at the end two candles burned before a kind of altar.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
raise the level or amount of something
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
freed from illness or injury
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
reeledverbUS /riːld/
past form of “reel” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
saintsnounUS /seɪnts/
plural of “saint” — a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization
From this reading Here and there along the wall were pictures of saints; and at the end two candles burned before a kind of altar.
only a very short time before
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
plural of “sens” — street names for marijuana
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
in a strange manner
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I had an idea that I had been partly conscious, and had lain tossing giddily with a burning head, and a dreadful thirst through days and nights of fever.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Here and there along the wall were pictures of saints; and at the end two candles burned before a kind of altar.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Here and there along the wall were pictures of saints; and at the end two candles burned before a kind of altar.
thirstnounUS /θɜːrst/
a physiological need to drink
From this reading I had an idea that I had been partly conscious, and had lain tossing giddily with a burning head, and a dreadful thirst through days and nights of fever.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading I had an idea that I had been partly conscious, and had lain tossing giddily with a burning head, and a dreadful thirst through days and nights of fever.
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
tossingverbUS /ˈtɔːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading I had an idea that I had been partly conscious, and had lain tossing giddily with a burning head, and a dreadful thirst through days and nights of fever.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Here and there along the wall were pictures of saints; and at the end two candles burned before a kind of altar.
vaultedadjectiveUS /ˈvɔːltɪd/
having a hemispherical vault or dome
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Here and there along the wall were pictures of saints; and at the end two candles burned before a kind of altar.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Here and there along the wall were pictures of saints; and at the end two candles burned before a kind of altar.
at the time that
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
in or at the place that
From this reading Now, though I could scarcely raise my head, and my brain reeled if I stirred, I was clear-minded, and knew that the bone of my leg was broken, and that for that reason I had a bed to myself where most lay double.
a Caucasian
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
white-walled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading When I recovered my senses I was on my back in one of eighteen beds, in a long white-walled room, having barred windows, and a vaulted ceiling.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading A woman, garbed strangely in black, and with a queer white cap drawn tight round her face, leaned over me, and with her finger laid to her lips, enjoined silence.
