used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
matters of personal concern
From this reading He knew better than anyone how she had looked forward to a new state of affairs.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading He watched her for a little while in vague alarm.
(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 John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
any person at all
From this reading He knew better than anyone how she had looked forward to a new state of affairs.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
(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 knew better than anyone how she had looked forward to a new state of affairs.
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading During all this time a vague but painful suspicion was in John’s mind.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
dressingnounUS /ˈdresɪŋ/
savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During all this time a vague but painful suspicion was in John’s mind.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He watched her for a little while in vague alarm.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading He knew better than anyone how she had looked forward to a new state of affairs.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He knew better than anyone how she had looked forward to a new state of affairs.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew better than anyone how she had looked forward to a new state of affairs.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
John'snounUS /dʒɑːnz/
possessive form of “john” — a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading During all this time a vague but painful suspicion was in John’s mind.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew better than anyone how she had looked forward to a new state of affairs.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He watched her for a little while in vague alarm.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He knew better than anyone how she had looked forward to a new state of affairs.
engage in
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading During all this time a vague but painful suspicion was in John’s mind.
monotonousadjectiveUS /məˈnɑːtənəs/
tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
in motion
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading He knew better than anyone how she had looked forward to a new state of affairs.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading During all this time a vague but painful suspicion was in John’s mind.
Parke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
pausingverbUS /ˈpɔːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
prowlingverbUS /ˈpraʊlɪŋ/
-ing form of “prowl” — move about in or as if in a predatory manner
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading He knew better than anyone how she had looked forward to a new state of affairs.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading During all this time a vague but painful suspicion was in John’s mind.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He knew better than anyone how she had looked forward to a new state of affairs.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading During all this time a vague but painful suspicion was in John’s mind.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading During all this time a vague but painful suspicion was in John’s mind.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading He watched her for a little while in vague alarm.
vaguelyadverbUS /ˈveɪɡli/
in a vague way
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading He watched her for a little while in vague alarm.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He watched her for a little while in vague alarm.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading He could not make out at first what she was doing, prowling about in a curious monotonous round from window to window, pausing to look out, as it seemed, at the edge of the blind, first of one, then of another.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading John Parke woke next morning to see his wife in her dressing gown, moving vaguely about the room, a shadow against the full summer light that came in at all the windows.
