used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He awoke to a sense of unfamiliar surroundings.
AboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Above him was a ceiling of dingy, brownish hue.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading The bed on which he lay was hard and lumpy, the coverlet ancient and thin.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The walls, he discovered on investigation, were similar to the ceiling and unadorned save for a few dusty old French prints.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE KING It was noon when Fenton awoke the next day.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading The bed on which he lay was hard and lumpy, the coverlet ancient and thin.
brownishadjectiveUS /ˈbraʊnɪʃ/
of a color similar to that of wood or earth
From this reading Above him was a ceiling of dingy, brownish hue.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading Above him was a ceiling of dingy, brownish hue.
coverletnoun
a decorative bedspread (usually quilted)
From this reading The bed on which he lay was hard and lumpy, the coverlet ancient and thin.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE KING It was noon when Fenton awoke the next day.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE KING It was noon when Fenton awoke the next day.
dingyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪndʒi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading Above him was a ceiling of dingy, brownish hue.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading The walls, he discovered on investigation, were similar to the ceiling and unadorned save for a few dusty old French prints.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading The walls, he discovered on investigation, were similar to the ceiling and unadorned save for a few dusty old French prints.
Fenton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE KING It was noon when Fenton awoke the next day.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The walls, he discovered on investigation, were similar to the ceiling and unadorned save for a few dusty old French prints.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The walls, he discovered on investigation, were similar to the ceiling and unadorned save for a few dusty old French prints.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading The walls, he discovered on investigation, were similar to the ceiling and unadorned save for a few dusty old French prints.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The bed on which he lay was hard and lumpy, the coverlet ancient and thin.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He awoke to a sense of unfamiliar surroundings.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Above him was a ceiling of dingy, brownish hue.
huenounUS /hjuː/
the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
From this reading Above him was a ceiling of dingy, brownish hue.
investigationnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃən/
an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading The walls, he discovered on investigation, were similar to the ceiling and unadorned save for a few dusty old French prints.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE KING It was noon when Fenton awoke the next day.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE KING It was noon when Fenton awoke the next day.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The bed on which he lay was hard and lumpy, the coverlet ancient and thin.
lumpyadjectiveUS /ˈlʌmpi/
like or containing small sticky lumps
From this reading The bed on which he lay was hard and lumpy, the coverlet ancient and thin.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE KING It was noon when Fenton awoke the next day.
the middle of the day
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE KING It was noon when Fenton awoke the next day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE KING It was noon when Fenton awoke the next day.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The walls, he discovered on investigation, were similar to the ceiling and unadorned save for a few dusty old French prints.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The walls, he discovered on investigation, were similar to the ceiling and unadorned save for a few dusty old French prints.
printsnounUS /prɪnts/
plural of “print” — the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication
From this reading The walls, he discovered on investigation, were similar to the ceiling and unadorned save for a few dusty old French prints.
except for; apart from
From this reading The walls, he discovered on investigation, were similar to the ceiling and unadorned save for a few dusty old French prints.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading He awoke to a sense of unfamiliar surroundings.
marked by correspondence or resemblance
From this reading The walls, he discovered on investigation, were similar to the ceiling and unadorned save for a few dusty old French prints.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading He awoke to a sense of unfamiliar surroundings.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE KING It was noon when Fenton awoke the next day.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The bed on which he lay was hard and lumpy, the coverlet ancient and thin.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He awoke to a sense of unfamiliar surroundings.
unadornedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈdɔːrnd/
not decorated with something to increase its beauty or distinction
From this reading The walls, he discovered on investigation, were similar to the ceiling and unadorned save for a few dusty old French prints.
unfamiliaradjectiveUS /ˌʌnfəˈmɪljər/
not known or well known
From this reading He awoke to a sense of unfamiliar surroundings.
plural of “wall” — 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 The walls, he discovered on investigation, were similar to the ceiling and unadorned save for a few dusty old French prints.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE KING It was noon when Fenton awoke the next day.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The walls, he discovered on investigation, were similar to the ceiling and unadorned save for a few dusty old French prints.
at the time that
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE KING It was noon when Fenton awoke the next day.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The bed on which he lay was hard and lumpy, the coverlet ancient and thin.
