used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Across the room the flash shone for an instant, then darted on like a will-o’-the-wisp.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It seemed almost morning, but not a ray of daylight came through the closed blinds.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Both girls dimly saw the outline of a man crouching in the shadow along the wall.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Across the room the flash shone for an instant, then darted on like a will-o’-the-wisp.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
Barbara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
blindsnounUS /blaɪndz/
plural of “blind” — people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading It seemed almost morning, but not a ray of daylight came through the closed blinds.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It seemed almost morning, but not a ray of daylight came through the closed blinds.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading It seemed almost morning, but not a ray of daylight came through the closed blinds.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading How long they had slept they could not know.
crouchingverbUS /ˈkraʊtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading Both girls dimly saw the outline of a man crouching in the shadow along the wall.
dartedverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪd/
past form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading Across the room the flash shone for an instant, then darted on like a will-o’-the-wisp.
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading It seemed almost morning, but not a ray of daylight came through the closed blinds.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading Both girls dimly saw the outline of a man crouching in the shadow along the wall.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Across the room the flash shone for an instant, then darted on like a will-o’-the-wisp.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Across the room the flash shone for an instant, then darted on like a will-o’-the-wisp.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Both girls dimly saw the outline of a man crouching in the shadow along the wall.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How long they had slept they could not know.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Both girls dimly saw the outline of a man crouching in the shadow along the wall.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Across the room the flash shone for an instant, then darted on like a will-o’-the-wisp.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed almost morning, but not a ray of daylight came through the closed blinds.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading How long they had slept they could not know.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Across the room the flash shone for an instant, then darted on like a will-o’-the-wisp.
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 How long they had slept they could not know.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Both girls dimly saw the outline of a man crouching in the shadow along the wall.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It seemed almost morning, but not a ray of daylight came through the closed blinds.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading How long they had slept they could not know.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Across the room the flash shone for an instant, then darted on like a will-o’-the-wisp.
outlinenounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪn/
the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading Both girls dimly saw the outline of a man crouching in the shadow along the wall.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
raynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading It seemed almost morning, but not a ray of daylight came through the closed blinds.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Across the room the flash shone for an instant, then darted on like a will-o’-the-wisp.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
cut with a saw
From this reading Both girls dimly saw the outline of a man crouching in the shadow along the wall.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed almost morning, but not a ray of daylight came through the closed blinds.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Both girls dimly saw the outline of a man crouching in the shadow along the wall.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading Across the room the flash shone for an instant, then darted on like a will-o’-the-wisp.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading How long they had slept they could not know.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It seemed almost morning, but not a ray of daylight came through the closed blinds.
the-wisp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Across the room the flash shone for an instant, then darted on like a will-o’-the-wisp.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Across the room the flash shone for an instant, then darted on like a will-o’-the-wisp.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading How long they had slept they could not know.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It seemed almost morning, but not a ray of daylight came through the closed blinds.
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 Both girls dimly saw the outline of a man crouching in the shadow along the wall.
will-o
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Across the room the flash shone for an instant, then darted on like a will-o’-the-wisp.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Barbara and Ruth both awoke with a feeling that a light had flashed over their faces, but neither of them spoke nor moved.
