used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Already he could hear his father stirring in the berth below and presently the elder man called:
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Sound as a top!"
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "We shall be in New York in half-an-hour, son, so get your traps packed up.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Already he could hear his father stirring in the berth below and presently the elder man called:
berthnounUS /bɜːrθ/
a job in an organization
From this reading Already he could hear his father stirring in the berth below and presently the elder man called:
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Already he could hear his father stirring in the berth below and presently the elder man called:
clothing in general
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
drowsyadjectiveUS /ˈdraʊzi/
half asleep
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
a person who is older than you are
From this reading Already he could hear his father stirring in the berth below and presently the elder man called:
opinion or judgment
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Already he could hear his father stirring in the berth below and presently the elder man called:
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "We shall be in New York in half-an-hour, son, so get your traps packed up.
half-an-hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We shall be in New York in half-an-hour, son, so get your traps packed up.
happeningsnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋz/
plural of “happening” — an event that happens
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Already he could hear his father stirring in the berth below and presently the elder man called:
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
HOLIDAYnounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How did you sleep?"
hurriedlyadverbUS /ˈhɜːridli/
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Already he could hear his father stirring in the berth below and presently the elder man called:
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
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 A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Already he could hear his father stirring in the berth below and presently the elder man called:
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading "We shall be in New York in half-an-hour, son, so get your traps packed up.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
packedadjectiveUS /pækt/
extremely crowed or filled to capacity
From this reading "We shall be in New York in half-an-hour, son, so get your traps packed up.
in the near future
From this reading Already he could hear his father stirring in the berth below and presently the elder man called:
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
recollectverbUS /ˌrekəˈlekt/
recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "We shall be in New York in half-an-hour, son, so get your traps packed up.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading How did you sleep?"
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "We shall be in New York in half-an-hour, son, so get your traps packed up.
a male human offspring
From this reading "We shall be in New York in half-an-hour, son, so get your traps packed up.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading "Sound as a top!"
Steve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading Already he could hear his father stirring in the berth below and presently the elder man called:
swayingverbUS /ˈsweɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
carry out
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
the upper part of anything
From this reading "Sound as a top!"
create by training and teaching
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
trapsnounUS /træps/
plural of “trap” — a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading "We shall be in New York in half-an-hour, son, so get your traps packed up.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "We shall be in New York in half-an-hour, son, so get your traps packed up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We shall be in New York in half-an-hour, son, so get your traps packed up.
at the time that
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
in or at the place that
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
wriggleverbUS /ˈrɪɡəl/
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading A HOLIDAY JOURNEY The next morning, when Steve woke to the swaying of the train and a drowsy sense of confusion and smoke, he could not for an instant think where he was; but it did not take long for him to open his eyes, recollect the happenings of the previous day, smile with satisfaction, and hurriedly wriggle into his clothes.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading "We shall be in New York in half-an-hour, son, so get your traps packed up.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading How did you sleep?"
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "We shall be in New York in half-an-hour, son, so get your traps packed up.
