used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Robert Ellery’s Idea Ellery woke up in the morning with the dim consciousness that he had a great idea.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading The murders, of course—they were always in his thoughts.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That was how his best ideas often came—in the night just before he went to sleep they came to him half-formed, and the next morning, by the time he was fully awake, they had somehow taken on form and certainty.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But what was the shattering new idea that had come to him as he lay awake?
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading But what was the shattering new idea that had come to him as he lay awake?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading What had he been thinking out when he dropped off to sleep the night before?
earlier than; in front of
From this reading What had he been thinking out when he dropped off to sleep the night before?
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading That was how his best ideas often came—in the night just before he went to sleep they came to him half-formed, and the next morning, by the time he was fully awake, they had somehow taken on form and certainty.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But what was the shattering new idea that had come to him as he lay awake?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading That was how his best ideas often came—in the night just before he went to sleep they came to him half-formed, and the next morning, by the time he was fully awake, they had somehow taken on form and certainty.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading That was how his best ideas often came—in the night just before he went to sleep they came to him half-formed, and the next morning, by the time he was fully awake, they had somehow taken on form and certainty.
certaintynounUS /ˈsɜːrtənti/
the state of being certain
From this reading That was how his best ideas often came—in the night just before he went to sleep they came to him half-formed, and the next morning, by the time he was fully awake, they had somehow taken on form and certainty.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But what was the shattering new idea that had come to him as he lay awake?
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading Robert Ellery’s Idea Ellery woke up in the morning with the dim consciousness that he had a great idea.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The murders, of course—they were always in his thoughts.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading Robert Ellery’s Idea Ellery woke up in the morning with the dim consciousness that he had a great idea.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading What had he been thinking out when he dropped off to sleep the night before?
Ellery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Robert Ellery’s Idea Ellery woke up in the morning with the dim consciousness that he had a great idea.
Ellery's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Robert Ellery’s Idea Ellery woke up in the morning with the dim consciousness that he had a great idea.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading That was how his best ideas often came—in the night just before he went to sleep they came to him half-formed, and the next morning, by the time he was fully awake, they had somehow taken on form and certainty.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading That was how his best ideas often came—in the night just before he went to sleep they came to him half-formed, and the next morning, by the time he was fully awake, they had somehow taken on form and certainty.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Robert Ellery’s Idea Ellery woke up in the morning with the dim consciousness that he had a great idea.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Robert Ellery’s Idea Ellery woke up in the morning with the dim consciousness that he had a great idea.
half-formed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was how his best ideas often came—in the night just before he went to sleep they came to him half-formed, and the next morning, by the time he was fully awake, they had somehow taken on form and certainty.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Robert Ellery’s Idea Ellery woke up in the morning with the dim consciousness that he had a great idea.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But what was the shattering new idea that had come to him as he lay awake?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The murders, of course—they were always in his thoughts.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was how his best ideas often came—in the night just before he went to sleep they came to him half-formed, and the next morning, by the time he was fully awake, they had somehow taken on form and certainty.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Robert Ellery’s Idea Ellery woke up in the morning with the dim consciousness that he had a great idea.
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading That was how his best ideas often came—in the night just before he went to sleep they came to him half-formed, and the next morning, by the time he was fully awake, they had somehow taken on form and certainty.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Robert Ellery’s Idea Ellery woke up in the morning with the dim consciousness that he had a great idea.
and nothing more
From this reading That was how his best ideas often came—in the night just before he went to sleep they came to him half-formed, and the next morning, by the time he was fully awake, they had somehow taken on form and certainty.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading But what was the shattering new idea that had come to him as he lay awake?
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Robert Ellery’s Idea Ellery woke up in the morning with the dim consciousness that he had a great idea.
murdersnounUS /ˈmɜːrdərz/
plural of “murder” — unlawful premeditated killing of a human being by a human being
From this reading The murders, of course—they were always in his thoughts.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading But what was the shattering new idea that had come to him as he lay awake?
immediately following in time or order
From this reading That was how his best ideas often came—in the night just before he went to sleep they came to him half-formed, and the next morning, by the time he was fully awake, they had somehow taken on form and certainty.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading What had he been thinking out when he dropped off to sleep the night before?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The murders, of course—they were always in his thoughts.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading What had he been thinking out when he dropped off to sleep the night before?
many times at short intervals
From this reading That was how his best ideas often came—in the night just before he went to sleep they came to him half-formed, and the next morning, by the time he was fully awake, they had somehow taken on form and certainty.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That was how his best ideas often came—in the night just before he went to sleep they came to him half-formed, and the next morning, by the time he was fully awake, they had somehow taken on form and certainty.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading What had he been thinking out when he dropped off to sleep the night before?
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading Robert Ellery’s Idea Ellery woke up in the morning with the dim consciousness that he had a great idea.
shatteringadjectiveUS /ˈʃætərɪŋ/
seemingly loud enough to break something; violently rattling or clattering
From this reading But what was the shattering new idea that had come to him as he lay awake?
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading What had he been thinking out when he dropped off to sleep the night before?
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading That was how his best ideas often came—in the night just before he went to sleep they came to him half-formed, and the next morning, by the time he was fully awake, they had somehow taken on form and certainty.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading That was how his best ideas often came—in the night just before he went to sleep they came to him half-formed, and the next morning, by the time he was fully awake, they had somehow taken on form and certainty.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Robert Ellery’s Idea Ellery woke up in the morning with the dim consciousness that he had a great idea.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Robert Ellery’s Idea Ellery woke up in the morning with the dim consciousness that he had a great idea.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The murders, of course—they were always in his thoughts.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading What had he been thinking out when he dropped off to sleep the night before?
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The murders, of course—they were always in his thoughts.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading That was how his best ideas often came—in the night just before he went to sleep they came to him half-formed, and the next morning, by the time he was fully awake, they had somehow taken on form and certainty.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What had he been thinking out when he dropped off to sleep the night before?
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Robert Ellery’s Idea Ellery woke up in the morning with the dim consciousness that he had a great idea.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But what was the shattering new idea that had come to him as he lay awake?
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading That was how his best ideas often came—in the night just before he went to sleep they came to him half-formed, and the next morning, by the time he was fully awake, they had somehow taken on form and certainty.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The murders, of course—they were always in his thoughts.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What had he been thinking out when he dropped off to sleep the night before?
at the time that
From this reading What had he been thinking out when he dropped off to sleep the night before?
in the company of; together with
From this reading Robert Ellery’s Idea Ellery woke up in the morning with the dim consciousness that he had a great idea.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading Robert Ellery’s Idea Ellery woke up in the morning with the dim consciousness that he had a great idea.
