used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Through the neglected slats of her shutters the sun crept in delicious defiance, and after a time awakened her.
acheverbUS /eɪk/
feel physical pain
From this reading She had forgotten the old ache in her heart for the time, but life was suddenly recalled to her by the gentle opening of her door and the entrance of her maid.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Through the neglected slats of her shutters the sun crept in delicious defiance, and after a time awakened her.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading Through the neglected slats of her shutters the sun crept in delicious defiance, and after a time awakened her.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
balmly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
beamnounUS /biːm/
a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She had forgotten the old ache in her heart for the time, but life was suddenly recalled to her by the gentle opening of her door and the entrance of her maid.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She had forgotten the old ache in her heart for the time, but life was suddenly recalled to her by the gentle opening of her door and the entrance of her maid.
Carlita
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Carlita was sleeping fitfully.
claspverbUS /klæsp/
hold firmly and tightly
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
climatenounUS /ˈklaɪmət/
the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Through the neglected slats of her shutters the sun crept in delicious defiance, and after a time awakened her.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
defiancenounUS /dɪˈfaɪəns/
intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude
From this reading Through the neglected slats of her shutters the sun crept in delicious defiance, and after a time awakened her.
deliciousadjectiveUS /dɪˈlɪʃəs/
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading Through the neglected slats of her shutters the sun crept in delicious defiance, and after a time awakened her.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading She had forgotten the old ache in her heart for the time, but life was suddenly recalled to her by the gentle opening of her door and the entrance of her maid.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading She had forgotten the old ache in her heart for the time, but life was suddenly recalled to her by the gentle opening of her door and the entrance of her maid.
fitfullyadverbUS /ˈfɪtfəli/
in a fitful manner
From this reading Carlita was sleeping fitfully.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had forgotten the old ache in her heart for the time, but life was suddenly recalled to her by the gentle opening of her door and the entrance of her maid.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading She had forgotten the old ache in her heart for the time, but life was suddenly recalled to her by the gentle opening of her door and the entrance of her maid.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading She had forgotten the old ache in her heart for the time, but life was suddenly recalled to her by the gentle opening of her door and the entrance of her maid.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading She had forgotten the old ache in her heart for the time, but life was suddenly recalled to her by the gentle opening of her door and the entrance of her maid.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Through the neglected slats of her shutters the sun crept in delicious defiance, and after a time awakened her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
not in action or at work
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
inaccuracynounUS /ˌɪˈnækjərəsi/
the quality of being inaccurate and having errors
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
indolentadjectiveUS /ˈɪndələnt/
disinclined to work or exertion
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
infantnounUS /ˈɪnfənt/
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading She had forgotten the old ache in her heart for the time, but life was suddenly recalled to her by the gentle opening of her door and the entrance of her maid.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
a female domestic
From this reading She had forgotten the old ache in her heart for the time, but life was suddenly recalled to her by the gentle opening of her door and the entrance of her maid.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
neglectedadjectiveUS /nəˈɡlektəd/
disregarded
From this reading Through the neglected slats of her shutters the sun crept in delicious defiance, and after a time awakened her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She had forgotten the old ache in her heart for the time, but life was suddenly recalled to her by the gentle opening of her door and the entrance of her maid.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading She had forgotten the old ache in her heart for the time, but life was suddenly recalled to her by the gentle opening of her door and the entrance of her maid.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
past form of “recall” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading She had forgotten the old ache in her heart for the time, but life was suddenly recalled to her by the gentle opening of her door and the entrance of her maid.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
shuttersnounUS /ˈʃʌtərz/
plural of “shutter” — a mechanical device on a camera that opens and closes to control the time of a photographic exposure
From this reading Through the neglected slats of her shutters the sun crept in delicious defiance, and after a time awakened her.
slatsnounUS /slæts/
plural of “slat” — a thin strip (wood or metal)
From this reading Through the neglected slats of her shutters the sun crept in delicious defiance, and after a time awakened her.
the state of being asleep
From this reading Carlita was sleeping fitfully.
the season of growth
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading She had forgotten the old ache in her heart for the time, but life was suddenly recalled to her by the gentle opening of her door and the entrance of her maid.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Through the neglected slats of her shutters the sun crept in delicious defiance, and after a time awakened her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the neglected slats of her shutters the sun crept in delicious defiance, and after a time awakened her.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Through the neglected slats of her shutters the sun crept in delicious defiance, and after a time awakened her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
unstableadjectiveUS /ənˈsteɪbəl/
lacking stability or fixity or firmness
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Carlita was sleeping fitfully.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading She arose and opened the shutters wide, then lay back upon the bed, her arms stretched out like those of an infant in his idle longing to clasp the golden beam.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The morning had broken brilliant and balmly, as an indolent day in idle spring, with the usual inaccuracy of our unstable climate.
