used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He brushed his hand across his eyes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
BlairnounUS /bler/
British statesman who became prime minister in 1997 (born in 1953)
From this reading They were foreigners, but they did speak English, no doubt far more perfectly than did Dan Blair.
a youthful male person
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
brushedadjectiveUS /brʌʃt/
touched lightly in passing; grazed against
From this reading He brushed his hand across his eyes.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They were foreigners, but they did speak English, no doubt far more perfectly than did Dan Blair.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They were foreigners, but they did speak English, no doubt far more perfectly than did Dan Blair.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Do you speak English?”
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading They were foreigners, but they did speak English, no doubt far more perfectly than did Dan Blair.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “Sit down, will you?
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading Do you speak English?”
opinion or judgment
From this reading He brushed his hand across his eyes.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading They were foreigners, but they did speak English, no doubt far more perfectly than did Dan Blair.
foreignersnounUS /ˈfɔːrənərz/
plural of “foreigner” — a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country
From this reading They were foreigners, but they did speak English, no doubt far more perfectly than did Dan Blair.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He brushed his hand across his eyes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He brushed his hand across his eyes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
the force of workers available
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They were foreigners, but they did speak English, no doubt far more perfectly than did Dan Blair.
not any; not one
From this reading They were foreigners, but they did speak English, no doubt far more perfectly than did Dan Blair.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading They were foreigners, but they did speak English, no doubt far more perfectly than did Dan Blair.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
shirtnounUS /ʃɜːrt/
a garment worn on the upper half of the body
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
be seated
From this reading “Sit down, will you?
sleevesnounUS /sliːvz/
plural of “sleeve” — the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
express in speech
From this reading Do you speak English?”
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They were foreigners, but they did speak English, no doubt far more perfectly than did Dan Blair.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were foreigners, but they did speak English, no doubt far more perfectly than did Dan Blair.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
unlikeadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪk/
marked by dissimilarity
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Dan awoke from his dream, and sat suddenly up in bed in his shirt sleeves, and stared at the people in his room,—a hotel boy and two strangers, not unlike the men in his dream.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were foreigners, but they did speak English, no doubt far more perfectly than did Dan Blair.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Sit down, will you?
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Sit down, will you?
