used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
a-at
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "W-w-wh-where 'm I a-at?
not being in a specified place
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
anew
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
a youthful male person
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
terminate
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
confusedlyadverb
in a confused manner
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
make right or correct
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
decidingnounUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪŋ/
the cognitive process of reaching a decision
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
drowsilyadverb
in a drowsy manner
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
divisible by two
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
at any time
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
opinion or judgment
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
fishing-trips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
FOXESnounUS /ˈfɑːksəz/
plural of “fox” — alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
a young female
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
GULLYnounUS /ˈɡʌli/
deep ditch cut by running water (especially after a prolonged downpour)
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
the act of retaining something
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "W-w-wh-where 'm I a-at?
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
lidsnounUS /lɪdz/
plural of “lid” — either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading "W-w-wh-where 'm I a-at?
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
MontgomerynounUS /mɑːntˈɡʌmri/
Canadian novelist (1874-1942)
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
used to form the superlative
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
pillownounUS /ˈpɪloʊ/
a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
prolongedadjectiveUS /prəˈlɔːŋd/
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
sobbingnounUS /ˈsɑːbɪŋ/
convulsive gasp made while weeping
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
softnessnounUS /ˈsɔːftnəs/
the property of giving little resistance to pressure and being easily cut or molded
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
tenderlyadverbUS /ˈtendərli/
with tenderness; in a tender manner
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
a special situation
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In one thing he was correct--it was the middle of the night; a later hour than the boy had ever been absent from home, even upon the most prolonged of fishing-trips.
W-w-wh-where
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "W-w-wh-where 'm I a-at?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
at the time that
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
in or at the place that
From this reading FOXES' GULLY When next Montgomery opened his eyes his head lay on something soft, and he confusedly tried to understand what and where it was.
white-frocked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
which person or people
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
showing curiosity
From this reading But thought seemed difficult, and he closed his lids again, wondering what made him feel so weak, and drowsily deciding that he must be in his own bed and this the middle of the night.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet the softness beneath his head was not that of a pillow in its case, but the lap of a white-frocked girl, who was holding him tenderly and sobbing as if her heart would break.
