used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a sudden stir behind the screens which enclosed the sculptor and the work in progress.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading So he pulled his stool up to a great chest full of gypsum to get a little repose by leaning against it.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The body of the Muse had already taken a definite form and he could begin to work out the head with the earliest dawn of day.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was a sudden stir behind the screens which enclosed the sculptor and the work in progress.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The body of the Muse had already taken a definite form and he could begin to work out the head with the earliest dawn of day.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading There was a sudden stir behind the screens which enclosed the sculptor and the work in progress.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading The body of the Muse had already taken a definite form and he could begin to work out the head with the earliest dawn of day.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading So he pulled his stool up to a great chest full of gypsum to get a little repose by leaning against it.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading So he pulled his stool up to a great chest full of gypsum to get a little repose by leaning against it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The body of the Muse had already taken a definite form and he could begin to work out the head with the earliest dawn of day.
createverbUS /kriˈeɪt/
make or cause to be or to become
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
the first light of day
From this reading The body of the Muse had already taken a definite form and he could begin to work out the head with the earliest dawn of day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The body of the Muse had already taken a definite form and he could begin to work out the head with the earliest dawn of day.
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading The body of the Muse had already taken a definite form and he could begin to work out the head with the earliest dawn of day.
disturbverbUS /dɪˈstɜːrb/
move deeply
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
draperynounUS /ˈdreɪpəri/
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
earliestadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrliəst/
(comparative and superlative of “early”) more early than; most early
From this reading The body of the Muse had already taken a definite form and he could begin to work out the head with the earliest dawn of day.
enclosedadjectiveUS /enˈkloʊzd/
closed in or surrounded or included within
From this reading There was a sudden stir behind the screens which enclosed the sculptor and the work in progress.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading The body of the Muse had already taken a definite form and he could begin to work out the head with the earliest dawn of day.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading So he pulled his stool up to a great chest full of gypsum to get a little repose by leaning against it.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading So he pulled his stool up to a great chest full of gypsum to get a little repose by leaning against it.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading So he pulled his stool up to a great chest full of gypsum to get a little repose by leaning against it.
gypsumnounUS /ˈdʒɪpsəm/
a common white or colorless mineral (hydrated calcium sulphate) used to make cements and plasters (especially plaster of Paris)
From this reading So he pulled his stool up to a great chest full of gypsum to get a little repose by leaning against it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The body of the Muse had already taken a definite form and he could begin to work out the head with the earliest dawn of day.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The body of the Muse had already taken a definite form and he could begin to work out the head with the earliest dawn of day.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a sudden stir behind the screens which enclosed the sculptor and the work in progress.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading So he pulled his stool up to a great chest full of gypsum to get a little repose by leaning against it.
immediately past
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading So he pulled his stool up to a great chest full of gypsum to get a little repose by leaning against it.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading So he pulled his stool up to a great chest full of gypsum to get a little repose by leaning against it.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
modelnounUS /ˈmɑːdəl/
a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
MusenounUS /mjuːz/
in ancient Greek mythology any of 9 daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne; protector of an art or science
From this reading The body of the Muse had already taken a definite form and he could begin to work out the head with the earliest dawn of day.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The body of the Muse had already taken a definite form and he could begin to work out the head with the earliest dawn of day.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The body of the Muse had already taken a definite form and he could begin to work out the head with the earliest dawn of day.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
PolluxnounUS /ˈpɑːləks/
the brightest star in Gemini; close to Castor
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading There was a sudden stir behind the screens which enclosed the sculptor and the work in progress.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading So he pulled his stool up to a great chest full of gypsum to get a little repose by leaning against it.
reposeverbUS /riˈpoʊz/
put or confide something in a person or thing
From this reading So he pulled his stool up to a great chest full of gypsum to get a little repose by leaning against it.
satisfactoryadjectiveUS /ˌsætəˈsfæktri/
giving satisfaction
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
cut with a saw
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
screensnounUS /skriːnz/
plural of “screen” — a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing
From this reading There was a sudden stir behind the screens which enclosed the sculptor and the work in progress.
sculptornounUS /ˈskʌlptər/
an artist who creates sculptures
From this reading There was a sudden stir behind the screens which enclosed the sculptor and the work in progress.
snoringnounUS /ˈsnɔːrɪŋ/
the act of snoring or producing a snoring sound
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So he pulled his stool up to a great chest full of gypsum to get a little repose by leaning against it.
in the near future
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
steward's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
move an implement through
From this reading There was a sudden stir behind the screens which enclosed the sculptor and the work in progress.
stoolnounUS /stuːl/
a simple seat without a back or arms
From this reading So he pulled his stool up to a great chest full of gypsum to get a little repose by leaning against it.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading There was a sudden stir behind the screens which enclosed the sculptor and the work in progress.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The body of the Muse had already taken a definite form and he could begin to work out the head with the earliest dawn of day.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a sudden stir behind the screens which enclosed the sculptor and the work in progress.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a sudden stir behind the screens which enclosed the sculptor and the work in progress.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading So he pulled his stool up to a great chest full of gypsum to get a little repose by leaning against it.
Uranianoun
(Greek mythology) the Muse of astronomy
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a sudden stir behind the screens which enclosed the sculptor and the work in progress.
wearilyadverbUS /ˈwerəli/
in a weary manner
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a sudden stir behind the screens which enclosed the sculptor and the work in progress.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He now dropped his arms wearily, for as soon as he ceased to create with his whole heart and mind he felt tired, and saw plainly that without a model he could do nothing satisfactory with the drapery of his Urania.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading There was a sudden stir behind the screens which enclosed the sculptor and the work in progress.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
zealnounUS /ziːl/
a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)
From this reading Pollux had been working for a long time with zeal and pleasure, but at last the steward's snoring had begun to disturb him.
