used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Gimblet was up early next morning, refreshed by a sound and dreamless sleep.
absent-mindedness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither of the ladies spoke much, however, and his absent-mindedness passed almost unnoticed.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Neither of the ladies spoke much, however, and his absent-mindedness passed almost unnoticed.
alternatelyadverbUS /ˈɔːltərnətli/
in an alternating sequence or position
From this reading He was silent and preoccupied during the morning meal, replying to inquiries as to his headache, alternately, with obvious inattention and exaggerated gratitude.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Gimblet was up early next morning, refreshed by a sound and dreamless sleep.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was silent and preoccupied during the morning meal, replying to inquiries as to his headache, alternately, with obvious inattention and exaggerated gratitude.
Ashiel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Ashiel was to be buried that day.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Lord Ashiel was to be buried that day.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
placed in a grave
From this reading Lord Ashiel was to be buried that day.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Gimblet was up early next morning, refreshed by a sound and dreamless sleep.
crypticadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪptɪk/
of an obscure nature
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Lord Ashiel was to be buried that day.
dreamlessadjective
untroubled by dreams
From this reading Gimblet was up early next morning, refreshed by a sound and dreamless sleep.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading He was silent and preoccupied during the morning meal, replying to inquiries as to his headache, alternately, with obvious inattention and exaggerated gratitude.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Gimblet was up early next morning, refreshed by a sound and dreamless sleep.
exaggeratedadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪtəd/
represented as greater than is true or reasonable
From this reading He was silent and preoccupied during the morning meal, replying to inquiries as to his headache, alternately, with obvious inattention and exaggerated gratitude.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
Gimblet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gimblet was up early next morning, refreshed by a sound and dreamless sleep.
a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation
From this reading He was silent and preoccupied during the morning meal, replying to inquiries as to his headache, alternately, with obvious inattention and exaggerated gratitude.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
headachenounUS /ˈhedeɪk/
something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness
From this reading He was silent and preoccupied during the morning meal, replying to inquiries as to his headache, alternately, with obvious inattention and exaggerated gratitude.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was silent and preoccupied during the morning meal, replying to inquiries as to his headache, alternately, with obvious inattention and exaggerated gratitude.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Neither of the ladies spoke much, however, and his absent-mindedness passed almost unnoticed.
inattentionnounUS /ˌɪnəˈtentʃən/
lack of attention
From this reading He was silent and preoccupied during the morning meal, replying to inquiries as to his headache, alternately, with obvious inattention and exaggerated gratitude.
inquiriesnounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪəriz/
plural of “inquiry” — a search for knowledge
From this reading He was silent and preoccupied during the morning meal, replying to inquiries as to his headache, alternately, with obvious inattention and exaggerated gratitude.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading Neither of the ladies spoke much, however, and his absent-mindedness passed almost unnoticed.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading Lord Ashiel was to be buried that day.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading He was silent and preoccupied during the morning meal, replying to inquiries as to his headache, alternately, with obvious inattention and exaggerated gratitude.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Gimblet was up early next morning, refreshed by a sound and dreamless sleep.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Neither of the ladies spoke much, however, and his absent-mindedness passed almost unnoticed.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Neither of the ladies spoke much, however, and his absent-mindedness passed almost unnoticed.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Gimblet was up early next morning, refreshed by a sound and dreamless sleep.
not any; not one
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
obviousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbviəs/
easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind
From this reading He was silent and preoccupied during the morning meal, replying to inquiries as to his headache, alternately, with obvious inattention and exaggerated gratitude.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Neither of the ladies spoke much, however, and his absent-mindedness passed almost unnoticed.
preoccupiedadjectiveUS /priˈɑːkjəpaɪd/
deeply absorbed in thought
From this reading He was silent and preoccupied during the morning meal, replying to inquiries as to his headache, alternately, with obvious inattention and exaggerated gratitude.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
refreshedadjectiveUS /riˈfreʃt/
with restored energy
From this reading Gimblet was up early next morning, refreshed by a sound and dreamless sleep.
replyingverbUS /rɪˈplaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading He was silent and preoccupied during the morning meal, replying to inquiries as to his headache, alternately, with obvious inattention and exaggerated gratitude.
riddleverbUS /ˈrɪdəl/
pierce with many holes
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading He was silent and preoccupied during the morning meal, replying to inquiries as to his headache, alternately, with obvious inattention and exaggerated gratitude.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading Gimblet was up early next morning, refreshed by a sound and dreamless sleep.
solutionnounUS /səˈluːʃən/
a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances; frequently (but not necessarily) a liquid solution
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
solvingnounUS /ˈsɑːlvɪŋ/
finding a solution to a problem
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Gimblet was up early next morning, refreshed by a sound and dreamless sleep.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Neither of the ladies spoke much, however, and his absent-mindedness passed almost unnoticed.
not in physical motion
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Lord Ashiel was to be buried that day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was silent and preoccupied during the morning meal, replying to inquiries as to his headache, alternately, with obvious inattention and exaggerated gratitude.
hard to endure
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
unnoticedadjectiveUS /ənˈnoʊtɪst/
not noticed
From this reading Neither of the ladies spoke much, however, and his absent-mindedness passed almost unnoticed.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Gimblet was up early next morning, refreshed by a sound and dreamless sleep.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Gimblet was up early next morning, refreshed by a sound and dreamless sleep.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
wrestledverbUS /ˈresəld/
past form of “wrestle” — combat to overcome an opposing tendency or force
From this reading For two hours before breakfast he wrestled with the cryptic message on the sheet of paper, trying first one way and then another of solving the riddle it presented, but still finding no solution.
