used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
absent-mindedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sit drumming absent-mindedly with my fingers in the shimmering motes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We are talking like old friends, he and I, in the little white bedroom.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We are talking like old friends, he and I, in the little white bedroom.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He looks at me and I feel no need to speak or to turn my head.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading We are talking like old friends, he and I, in the little white bedroom.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The novelty of his presence makes no impression on me beyond a feeling of surprise that I do not find it strange.
columnnounUS /ˈkɑːləm/
a line of units following one after another
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
diesnounUS /daɪz/
plural of “die” — a small cube with 1 to 6 spots on the six faces; used in gambling to generate random numbers
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The novelty of his presence makes no impression on me beyond a feeling of surprise that I do not find it strange.
drummingnounUS /ˈdrʌmɪŋ/
the act of playing drums
From this reading I sit drumming absent-mindedly with my fingers in the shimmering motes.
the petals or sepals of a flower that bend downward (especially the outer perianth of an iris)
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading He looks at me and I feel no need to speak or to turn my head.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading The novelty of his presence makes no impression on me beyond a feeling of surprise that I do not find it strange.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading The novelty of his presence makes no impression on me beyond a feeling of surprise that I do not find it strange.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading I sit drumming absent-mindedly with my fingers in the shimmering motes.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading We are talking like old friends, he and I, in the little white bedroom.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We are talking like old friends, he and I, in the little white bedroom.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He looks at me and I feel no need to speak or to turn my head.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The novelty of his presence makes no impression on me beyond a feeling of surprise that I do not find it strange.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading We are talking like old friends, he and I, in the little white bedroom.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading The novelty of his presence makes no impression on me beyond a feeling of surprise that I do not find it strange.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We are talking like old friends, he and I, in the little white bedroom.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The novelty of his presence makes no impression on me beyond a feeling of surprise that I do not find it strange.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading We are talking like old friends, he and I, in the little white bedroom.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading We are talking like old friends, he and I, in the little white bedroom.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading He looks at me and I feel no need to speak or to turn my head.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading The novelty of his presence makes no impression on me beyond a feeling of surprise that I do not find it strange.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He looks at me and I feel no need to speak or to turn my head.
motesnounUS /moʊts/
plural of “mote” — (nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything
From this reading I sit drumming absent-mindedly with my fingers in the shimmering motes.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I sit drumming absent-mindedly with my fingers in the shimmering motes.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading He looks at me and I feel no need to speak or to turn my head.
not any; not one
From this reading He looks at me and I feel no need to speak or to turn my head.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The novelty of his presence makes no impression on me beyond a feeling of surprise that I do not find it strange.
noveltynounUS /ˈnɑːvəlti/
originality by virtue of being refreshingly novel
From this reading The novelty of his presence makes no impression on me beyond a feeling of surprise that I do not find it strange.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading We are talking like old friends, he and I, in the little white bedroom.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He looks at me and I feel no need to speak or to turn my head.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading The novelty of his presence makes no impression on me beyond a feeling of surprise that I do not find it strange.
raynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
shimmeringverbUS /ˈʃɪmərɪŋ/
-ing form of “shimmer” — shine with a weak or fitful light
From this reading I sit drumming absent-mindedly with my fingers in the shimmering motes.
be seated
From this reading I sit drumming absent-mindedly with my fingers in the shimmering motes.
express in speech
From this reading He looks at me and I feel no need to speak or to turn my head.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading The novelty of his presence makes no impression on me beyond a feeling of surprise that I do not find it strange.
the rays of the sun
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The novelty of his presence makes no impression on me beyond a feeling of surprise that I do not find it strange.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading We are talking like old friends, he and I, in the little white bedroom.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We are talking like old friends, he and I, in the little white bedroom.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He looks at me and I feel no need to speak or to turn my head.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading He looks at me and I feel no need to speak or to turn my head.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
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 Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We are talking like old friends, he and I, in the little white bedroom.
a Caucasian
From this reading We are talking like old friends, he and I, in the little white bedroom.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Through the two curtains of the window high up in the wall a great ray of sunshine falls, a column of dancing light that dies on the table between us.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I sit drumming absent-mindedly with my fingers in the shimmering motes.
