used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With a start I sat up abruptly; I rubbed my eyes confusedly for a moment, not knowing where I was.
quickly and without warning
From this reading With a start I sat up abruptly; I rubbed my eyes confusedly for a moment, not knowing where I was.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading LYLDA "I was awakened by the feel of soft hands upon my head and face.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I recognized her at once--she was the girl of the microscope.
aroused or activated
From this reading LYLDA "I was awakened by the feel of soft hands upon my head and face.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading When I collected my wits I found myself staring into the face of a girl, who was kneeling on the ground before me.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading LYLDA "I was awakened by the feel of soft hands upon my head and face.
collectedadjectiveUS /kəˈlektəd/
brought together in one place
From this reading When I collected my wits I found myself staring into the face of a girl, who was kneeling on the ground before me.
confusedlyadverb
in a confused manner
From this reading With a start I sat up abruptly; I rubbed my eyes confusedly for a moment, not knowing where I was.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
opinion or judgment
From this reading With a start I sat up abruptly; I rubbed my eyes confusedly for a moment, not knowing where I was.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading LYLDA "I was awakened by the feel of soft hands upon my head and face.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading LYLDA "I was awakened by the feel of soft hands upon my head and face.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading With a start I sat up abruptly; I rubbed my eyes confusedly for a moment, not knowing where I was.
set up or found
From this reading When I collected my wits I found myself staring into the face of a girl, who was kneeling on the ground before me.
a young female
From this reading When I collected my wits I found myself staring into the face of a girl, who was kneeling on the ground before me.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading When I collected my wits I found myself staring into the face of a girl, who was kneeling on the ground before me.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading LYLDA "I was awakened by the feel of soft hands upon my head and face.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading LYLDA "I was awakened by the feel of soft hands upon my head and face.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I recognized her at once--she was the girl of the microscope.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading LYLDA "I was awakened by the feel of soft hands upon my head and face.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When I collected my wits I found myself staring into the face of a girl, who was kneeling on the ground before me.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
kneelingnounUS /ˈniːlɪŋ/
supporting yourself on your knees
From this reading When I collected my wits I found myself staring into the face of a girl, who was kneeling on the ground before me.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading With a start I sat up abruptly; I rubbed my eyes confusedly for a moment, not knowing where I was.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
LYLDA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LYLDA "I was awakened by the feel of soft hands upon my head and face.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When I collected my wits I found myself staring into the face of a girl, who was kneeling on the ground before me.
microscopenounUS /ˈmaɪkrəskoʊp/
magnifier of the image of small objects
From this reading I recognized her at once--she was the girl of the microscope.
mildlyadverbUS /ˈmaɪldli/
to a moderate degree
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
a particular point in time
From this reading With a start I sat up abruptly; I rubbed my eyes confusedly for a moment, not knowing where I was.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading LYLDA "I was awakened by the feel of soft hands upon my head and face.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading When I collected my wits I found myself staring into the face of a girl, who was kneeling on the ground before me.
not any; not one
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading With a start I sat up abruptly; I rubbed my eyes confusedly for a moment, not knowing where I was.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading LYLDA "I was awakened by the feel of soft hands upon my head and face.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When I collected my wits I found myself staring into the face of a girl, who was kneeling on the ground before me.
on one occasion
From this reading I recognized her at once--she was the girl of the microscope.
and nothing more
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading I recognized her at once--she was the girl of the microscope.
rubbedverbUS /rʌbd/
inflected form of “rub” — move over something with pressure
From this reading With a start I sat up abruptly; I rubbed my eyes confusedly for a moment, not knowing where I was.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading With a start I sat up abruptly; I rubbed my eyes confusedly for a moment, not knowing where I was.
express in words
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I recognized her at once--she was the girl of the microscope.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading LYLDA "I was awakened by the feel of soft hands upon my head and face.
springingverbUS /ˈsprɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading When I collected my wits I found myself staring into the face of a girl, who was kneeling on the ground before me.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading With a start I sat up abruptly; I rubbed my eyes confusedly for a moment, not knowing where I was.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LYLDA "I was awakened by the feel of soft hands upon my head and face.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading With a start I sat up abruptly; I rubbed my eyes confusedly for a moment, not knowing where I was.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading LYLDA "I was awakened by the feel of soft hands upon my head and face.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading LYLDA "I was awakened by the feel of soft hands upon my head and face.
at the time that
From this reading When I collected my wits I found myself staring into the face of a girl, who was kneeling on the ground before me.
in or at the place that
From this reading With a start I sat up abruptly; I rubbed my eyes confusedly for a moment, not knowing where I was.
which person or people
From this reading When I collected my wits I found myself staring into the face of a girl, who was kneeling on the ground before me.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a start I sat up abruptly; I rubbed my eyes confusedly for a moment, not knowing where I was.
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading When I collected my wits I found myself staring into the face of a girl, who was kneeling on the ground before me.
wondermentnounUS /ˈwʌndərmənt/
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "To say I was startled would be to put it mildly, but I read no fear in her expression, only wonderment at my springing so suddenly into life.
