used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
alterationsnounUS /ˌɔːltərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “alteration” — an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Now there was no longer any hope, even for a few days more.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading SURLEY RECTORY The old man lay dying at last.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
bedsidenounUS /ˈbedsaɪd/
space by the side of a bed (especially the bed of a sick or dying person)
From this reading His two daughters and his son sat by his bedside, waiting.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His two daughters and his son sat by his bedside, waiting.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
plural of “daughter” — a female human offspring
From this reading His two daughters and his son sat by his bedside, waiting.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Now there was no longer any hope, even for a few days more.
deferredverbUS /dɪˈfɜːrd/
inflected form of “defer” — hold back to a later time
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading There was nothing to do but to wait, and to think.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading SURLEY RECTORY The old man lay dying at last.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
divisible by two
From this reading Now there was no longer any hope, even for a few days more.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Now there was no longer any hope, even for a few days more.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
the act of giving
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
immediately past
From this reading SURLEY RECTORY The old man lay dying at last.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading SURLEY RECTORY The old man lay dying at last.
lingeredverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡərd/
past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
for more time
From this reading Now there was no longer any hope, even for a few days more.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading SURLEY RECTORY The old man lay dying at last.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Now there was no longer any hope, even for a few days more.
in motion
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
not any; not one
From this reading Now there was no longer any hope, even for a few days more.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was nothing to do but to wait, and to think.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading SURLEY RECTORY The old man lay dying at last.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
onwardsadverbUS /ˈɑːnwərdz/
in a forward direction
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
RECTORYnounUS /ˈrektəri/
an official residence provided by a church for its parson or vicar or rector
From this reading SURLEY RECTORY The old man lay dying at last.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading His two daughters and his son sat by his bedside, waiting.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
a male human offspring
From this reading His two daughters and his son sat by his bedside, waiting.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
SURLEY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SURLEY RECTORY The old man lay dying at last.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SURLEY RECTORY The old man lay dying at last.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Now there was no longer any hope, even for a few days more.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading There was nothing to do but to wait, and to think.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was nothing to do but to wait, and to think.
in the direction of
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading His two daughters and his son sat by his bedside, waiting.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading There was nothing to do but to wait, and to think.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading His two daughters and his son sat by his bedside, waiting.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now there was no longer any hope, even for a few days more.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had lingered on for months, now getting a little better and giving hope that the end might be deferred for a time, now sinking, so that it seemed as if it had come; but with all the alterations in his state moving onwards slowly and surely towards his rest.
