used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading THE NEW DAY The slapping of the wind against the tent awakened Beatrice.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An outflung arm discovered Clay missing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading An outflung arm discovered Clay missing.
aroused or activated
From this reading THE NEW DAY The slapping of the wind against the tent awakened Beatrice.
BeatricenounUS /ˈbiːətrəs/
the woman who guided Dante through Paradise in the Divine Comedy
From this reading THE NEW DAY The slapping of the wind against the tent awakened Beatrice.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading She could hear it soughing gently through the branches of the live oaks.
brushedadjectiveUS /brʌʃt/
touched lightly in passing; grazed against
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
ClaynounUS /kleɪ/
a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
From this reading An outflung arm discovered Clay missing.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The eastern sky was faintly pink with the promise of a coming sun.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could hear it soughing gently through the branches of the live oaks.
the first light of day
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE NEW DAY The slapping of the wind against the tent awakened Beatrice.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading An outflung arm discovered Clay missing.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
easternadjectiveUS /ˈiːstərn/
lying toward or situated in the east
From this reading The eastern sky was faintly pink with the promise of a coming sun.
enchantedadjectiveUS /ɪnˈtʃæn.tɪd/
Filled with or placed under the influence of magical power or charm.
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
faintlyadverbUS /ˈfeɪntli/
to a faint degree or weakly perceived
From this reading The eastern sky was faintly pink with the promise of a coming sun.
flapsnounUS /flæps/
a movable airfoil that is part of an aircraft wing; used to increase lift or drag
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
in a gradual manner
From this reading She could hear it soughing gently through the branches of the live oaks.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading She could hear it soughing gently through the branches of the live oaks.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She could hear it soughing gently through the branches of the live oaks.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading She could hear it soughing gently through the branches of the live oaks.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
missingadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsɪŋ/
not able to be found
From this reading An outflung arm discovered Clay missing.
modestlyadverbUS /ˈmɑːdəstli/
with modesty; in a modest manner
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading THE NEW DAY The slapping of the wind against the tent awakened Beatrice.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
oaksnounUS /oʊks/
plural of “oak” — the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading She could hear it soughing gently through the branches of the live oaks.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE NEW DAY The slapping of the wind against the tent awakened Beatrice.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
outflung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An outflung arm discovered Clay missing.
a light shade of red
From this reading The eastern sky was faintly pink with the promise of a coming sun.
in the near future
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
primevaladjectiveUS /praɪˈmiːvəl/
having existed from the beginning; in an earliest or original stage or state
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading The eastern sky was faintly pink with the promise of a coming sun.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could hear it soughing gently through the branches of the live oaks.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The eastern sky was faintly pink with the promise of a coming sun.
slappingverbUS /ˈslæpɪŋ/
inflected form of “slap” — hit with something flat, like a paddle or the open hand
From this reading THE NEW DAY The slapping of the wind against the tent awakened Beatrice.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
soughingadjective
characterized by soft sounds
From this reading She could hear it soughing gently through the branches of the live oaks.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The eastern sky was faintly pink with the promise of a coming sun.
swamverbUS /swæm/
inflected form of “swim” — travel through water
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading THE NEW DAY The slapping of the wind against the tent awakened Beatrice.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NEW DAY The slapping of the wind against the tent awakened Beatrice.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading She could hear it soughing gently through the branches of the live oaks.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The eastern sky was faintly pink with the promise of a coming sun.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading THE NEW DAY The slapping of the wind against the tent awakened Beatrice.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The eastern sky was faintly pink with the promise of a coming sun.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
but in spite of that
From this reading Presently she rose, sleep not yet brushed fully from her eyes, drew the tent flaps together modestly under her chin, and looked out upon a world which swam in the enchanted light of a dawn primeval.
