used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He woke with the sensation of being exceedingly uncomfortable and of being in an entirely unaccustomed spot.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
apprehensionsnounUS /ˌæprɪˈhenʃənz/
plural of “apprehension” — fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading He staggered to his feet with poignant apprehensions of disaster.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He sat up, looking around him.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
barrelnounUS /ˈbærəl/
a tube through which a bullet travels when a gun is fired
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He woke with the sensation of being exceedingly uncomfortable and of being in an entirely unaccustomed spot.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
bonenounUS /boʊn/
rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
clamorousadjective
conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
disasternounUS /dɪˈzæstər/
a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
From this reading He staggered to his feet with poignant apprehensions of disaster.
dischargedadjectiveUS /dɪsˈtʃɑːrdʒd/
having lost your job
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
driedadjectiveUS /draɪd/
not still wet
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading He woke with the sensation of being exceedingly uncomfortable and of being in an entirely unaccustomed spot.
to an extreme degree
From this reading He woke with the sensation of being exceedingly uncomfortable and of being in an entirely unaccustomed spot.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He staggered to his feet with poignant apprehensions of disaster.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
plural of “garden” — a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
hauntingadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪŋ/
continually recurring to the mind
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He woke with the sensation of being exceedingly uncomfortable and of being in an entirely unaccustomed spot.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He sat up, looking around him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
increasingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/
becoming greater or larger
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
a room where books are kept
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading He sat up, looking around him.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
odournounUS /ˈoʊdər/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
poignantadjectiveUS /ˈpɔɪnjənt/
arousing affect
From this reading He staggered to his feet with poignant apprehensions of disaster.
any object that is left unused or still extant
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He sat up, looking around him.
an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading He woke with the sensation of being exceedingly uncomfortable and of being in an entirely unaccustomed spot.
shrubberies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
slumbernounUS /ˈslʌmbər/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He woke with the sensation of being exceedingly uncomfortable and of being in an entirely unaccustomed spot.
staggeredverbUS /ˈstæɡərd/
past form of “stagger” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading He staggered to his feet with poignant apprehensions of disaster.
not in physical motion
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He staggered to his feet with poignant apprehensions of disaster.
in the direction of
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
twitternounUS /ˈtwɪtər/
a series of chirps
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
unaccustomedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈkʌstəmd/
unusual or unfamiliar
From this reading He woke with the sensation of being exceedingly uncomfortable and of being in an entirely unaccustomed spot.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading He woke with the sensation of being exceedingly uncomfortable and of being in an entirely unaccustomed spot.
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He sat up, looking around him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He was on the floor of the library, his revolver, with one barrel discharged, by his side, a dried but painful cut upon his cheek bone, and with the haunting remains of a most unpleasant odour still hanging about the room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Towards half-past five in the morning Mr. Johnson was awakened from a heavy slumber by the clamorous and increasing twitter of birds in the shrubberies and gardens outside.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He woke with the sensation of being exceedingly uncomfortable and of being in an entirely unaccustomed spot.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading He woke with the sensation of being exceedingly uncomfortable and of being in an entirely unaccustomed spot.
