used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading YOUNG PEOPLE The day had advanced to a heat unusual in our temperate climate.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading There was no sound of bird life, and even the insects had ceased their stir of activity.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading YOUNG PEOPLE The day had advanced to a heat unusual in our temperate climate.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
(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 All nature seemed to be holding its breath in an endeavour to support it.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading All nature seemed to be holding its breath in an endeavour to support it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was no sound of bird life, and even the insects had ceased their stir of activity.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading All nature seemed to be holding its breath in an endeavour to support it.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Judith was the only member of the party who showed no manifest signs of being overheated.
betook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading There was no sound of bird life, and even the insects had ceased their stir of activity.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading All nature seemed to be holding its breath in an endeavour to support it.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading There was no sound of bird life, and even the insects had ceased their stir of activity.
climatenounUS /ˈklaɪmət/
the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time
From this reading YOUNG PEOPLE The day had advanced to a heat unusual in our temperate climate.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading YOUNG PEOPLE The day had advanced to a heat unusual in our temperate climate.
having made preparations
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
endeavournounUS /ɪnˈdevər/
a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)
From this reading All nature seemed to be holding its breath in an endeavour to support it.
divisible by two
From this reading There was no sound of bird life, and even the insects had ceased their stir of activity.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading YOUNG PEOPLE The day had advanced to a heat unusual in our temperate climate.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading YOUNG PEOPLE The day had advanced to a heat unusual in our temperate climate.
the act of retaining something
From this reading All nature seemed to be holding its breath in an endeavour to support it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading YOUNG PEOPLE The day had advanced to a heat unusual in our temperate climate.
insectsnounUS /ˈɪnsekts/
plural of “insect” — small air-breathing arthropod
From this reading There was no sound of bird life, and even the insects had ceased their stir of activity.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading All nature seemed to be holding its breath in an endeavour to support it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading All nature seemed to be holding its breath in an endeavour to support it.
JudithnounUS /ˈdʒuːdəθ/
Jewish heroine in one of the books of the Apocrypha; she saved her people by decapitating the Assyrian general Holofernes
From this reading Judith was the only member of the party who showed no manifest signs of being overheated.
languidlyadverb
in a languid and lethargic manner
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading There was no sound of bird life, and even the insects had ceased their stir of activity.
manifestverbUS /ˈmænəfest/
provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes
From this reading Judith was the only member of the party who showed no manifest signs of being overheated.
one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading Judith was the only member of the party who showed no manifest signs of being overheated.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading All nature seemed to be holding its breath in an endeavour to support it.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no sound of bird life, and even the insects had ceased their stir of activity.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was no sound of bird life, and even the insects had ceased their stir of activity.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
and nothing more
From this reading Judith was the only member of the party who showed no manifest signs of being overheated.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading YOUNG PEOPLE The day had advanced to a heat unusual in our temperate climate.
overheatedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərhiːtɪd/
heated beyond a safe or desirable point
From this reading Judith was the only member of the party who showed no manifest signs of being overheated.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Judith was the only member of the party who showed no manifest signs of being overheated.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading YOUNG PEOPLE The day had advanced to a heat unusual in our temperate climate.
playersnounUS /ˈpleɪərz/
plural of “player” — a person who participates in or is skilled at some game
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
a person who is being chased
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
seatsnounUS /siːts/
an area that includes places where several people can sit
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading All nature seemed to be holding its breath in an endeavour to support it.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Judith was the only member of the party who showed no manifest signs of being overheated.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading Judith was the only member of the party who showed no manifest signs of being overheated.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading There was no sound of bird life, and even the insects had ceased their stir of activity.
move an implement through
From this reading There was no sound of bird life, and even the insects had ceased their stir of activity.
sun-steeped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
From this reading All nature seemed to be holding its breath in an endeavour to support it.
temperateadjectiveUS /ˈtemprət/
(of weather or climate) free from extremes; mild; or characteristic of such weather or climate
From this reading YOUNG PEOPLE The day had advanced to a heat unusual in our temperate climate.
tennisnounUS /ˈtenəs/
a game played with rackets by two or four players who hit a ball back and forth over a net that divides the court
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading YOUNG PEOPLE The day had advanced to a heat unusual in our temperate climate.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There was no sound of bird life, and even the insects had ceased their stir of activity.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no sound of bird life, and even the insects had ceased their stir of activity.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading YOUNG PEOPLE The day had advanced to a heat unusual in our temperate climate.
torridadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrəd/
characterized by intense emotion
From this reading After one set, somewhat languidly pursued, the tennis players betook themselves to the seats disposed near at hand, in a shade almost as torrid as the sun-steeped open.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading YOUNG PEOPLE The day had advanced to a heat unusual in our temperate climate.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no sound of bird life, and even the insects had ceased their stir of activity.
which person or people
From this reading Judith was the only member of the party who showed no manifest signs of being overheated.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading YOUNG PEOPLE The day had advanced to a heat unusual in our temperate climate.
