used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
any person at all
From this reading "Was there anybody else with me, Banks?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The rest was a dream, he said to himself, resignedly, as he turned his face to the wall and slept.
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
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 On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When he returned to consciousness the woman's step and touch had vanished, but Banks was still nursing him with his infinite patience and his silly, good-humoured smile.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading When he returned to consciousness the woman's step and touch had vanished, but Banks was still nursing him with his infinite patience and his silly, good-humoured smile.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading The rest was a dream, he said to himself, resignedly, as he turned his face to the wall and slept.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Was there anybody else with me, Banks?
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The rest was a dream, he said to himself, resignedly, as he turned his face to the wall and slept.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
good-humouredadjective
disposed to please
From this reading When he returned to consciousness the woman's step and touch had vanished, but Banks was still nursing him with his infinite patience and his silly, good-humoured smile.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When he returned to consciousness the woman's step and touch had vanished, but Banks was still nursing him with his infinite patience and his silly, good-humoured smile.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When he returned to consciousness the woman's step and touch had vanished, but Banks was still nursing him with his infinite patience and his silly, good-humoured smile.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The rest was a dream, he said to himself, resignedly, as he turned his face to the wall and slept.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
hoveringverbUS /ˈhʌvərɪŋ/
-ing form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
infiniteadjectiveUS /ˈɪnfənət/
having no limits or boundaries in time or space or extent or magnitude
From this reading When he returned to consciousness the woman's step and touch had vanished, but Banks was still nursing him with his infinite patience and his silly, good-humoured smile.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Was there anybody else with me, Banks?
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
mildadjectiveUS /maɪld/
moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
nursingnounUS /ˈnɜːrsɪŋ/
the work of caring for the sick or injured or infirm
From this reading When he returned to consciousness the woman's step and touch had vanished, but Banks was still nursing him with his infinite patience and his silly, good-humoured smile.
obscuritynounUS /əbsˈkjʊrəti/
the quality of being unclear or abstruse and hard to understand
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading When he returned to consciousness the woman's step and touch had vanished, but Banks was still nursing him with his infinite patience and his silly, good-humoured smile.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
resignedlyadverb
with resignation and acceptance; in a resigned manner
From this reading The rest was a dream, he said to himself, resignedly, as he turned his face to the wall and slept.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The rest was a dream, he said to himself, resignedly, as he turned his face to the wall and slept.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading When he returned to consciousness the woman's step and touch had vanished, but Banks was still nursing him with his infinite patience and his silly, good-humoured smile.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The rest was a dream, he said to himself, resignedly, as he turned his face to the wall and slept.
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading When he returned to consciousness the woman's step and touch had vanished, but Banks was still nursing him with his infinite patience and his silly, good-humoured smile.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading The rest was a dream, he said to himself, resignedly, as he turned his face to the wall and slept.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading When he returned to consciousness the woman's step and touch had vanished, but Banks was still nursing him with his infinite patience and his silly, good-humoured smile.
make square
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
not in physical motion
From this reading When he returned to consciousness the woman's step and touch had vanished, but Banks was still nursing him with his infinite patience and his silly, good-humoured smile.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "Was there anybody else with me, Banks?
throbbingnounUS /ˈθrɑːbɪŋ/
an instance of rapid strong pulsation (of the heart)
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
timidlyadverbUS /ˈtɪmədli/
in a shy or timid or bashful manner
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When he returned to consciousness the woman's step and touch had vanished, but Banks was still nursing him with his infinite patience and his silly, good-humoured smile.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The rest was a dream, he said to himself, resignedly, as he turned his face to the wall and slept.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
having passed out of existence
From this reading When he returned to consciousness the woman's step and touch had vanished, but Banks was still nursing him with his infinite patience and his silly, good-humoured smile.
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 rest was a dream, he said to himself, resignedly, as he turned his face to the wall and slept.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When he returned to consciousness the woman's step and touch had vanished, but Banks was still nursing him with his infinite patience and his silly, good-humoured smile.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
at the time that
From this reading When he returned to consciousness the woman's step and touch had vanished, but Banks was still nursing him with his infinite patience and his silly, good-humoured smile.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On a mild January morning, when he came downstairs for the first time, and went with Banks out into the open square in front of the hotel, he put almost timidly the question which had been throbbing in his brain for weeks.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading THE LIGHT BEYOND Out of the obscurity of the next few weeks, he brought, with the memory of Banks hovering about his bed, the vague impression of a woman's step across his floor and a woman's touch on his brow and hands.
