AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Then, sleep left him, and he realized that the light, which was now moving slowly across the bookcase, was a real light.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He seemed to be taking the room step by step.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading That the man behind it could not have been there long was plain, or he would have seen the chair and its occupant.
bookcasenounUS /ˈbʊkkeɪs/
a piece of furniture with shelves for storing books
From this reading Then, sleep left him, and he realized that the light, which was now moving slowly across the bookcase, was a real light.
brainnounUS /breɪn/
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He seemed to be taking the room step by step.
chairnounUS /tʃer/
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading That the man behind it could not have been there long was plain, or he would have seen the chair and its occupant.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading That the man behind it could not have been there long was plain, or he would have seen the chair and its occupant.
dartingverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
dreamnounUS /driːm/
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
dreamingnounUS /ˈdriːmɪŋ/
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
enlargedadjectiveUS /ˌenˈlɑːrdʒd/
(of an organ or body part) excessively enlarged as a result of increased size in the constituent cells
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
fanciedadjectiveUS /ˈfænsid/
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
fireflynounUS /ˈfaɪərflaɪ/
tropical American click beetle having bright luminous spots
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading That the man behind it could not have been there long was plain, or he would have seen the chair and its occupant.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
incoherentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnkoʊˈhɪrənt/
without logical or meaningful connection
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading That the man behind it could not have been there long was plain, or he would have seen the chair and its occupant.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
JimmyverbUS /ˈdʒɪmi/
to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Then, sleep left him, and he realized that the light, which was now moving slowly across the bookcase, was a real light.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading That the man behind it could not have been there long was plain, or he would have seen the chair and its occupant.
mistsnounUS /mɪsts/
plural of “mist” — a thin fog with condensation near the ground
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
movingadjectiveUS /ˈmuːvɪŋ/
in motion
From this reading Then, sleep left him, and he realized that the light, which was now moving slowly across the bookcase, was a real light.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
NIGHTnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Then, sleep left him, and he realized that the light, which was now moving slowly across the bookcase, was a real light.
occupantnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənt/
someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading That the man behind it could not have been there long was plain, or he would have seen the chair and its occupant.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading That the man behind it could not have been there long was plain, or he would have seen the chair and its occupant.
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
plainadjectiveUS /pleɪn/
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading That the man behind it could not have been there long was plain, or he would have seen the chair and its occupant.
realadjectiveUS /riːl/
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Then, sleep left him, and he realized that the light, which was now moving slowly across the bookcase, was a real light.
realizedadjectiveUS /ˈriːəlaɪzd/
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Then, sleep left him, and he realized that the light, which was now moving slowly across the bookcase, was a real light.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
seenverbUS /siːn/
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading That the man behind it could not have been there long was plain, or he would have seen the chair and its occupant.
sleepnounUS /sliːp/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
slowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Then, sleep left him, and he realized that the light, which was now moving slowly across the bookcase, was a real light.
stepnounUS /step/
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading He seemed to be taking the room step by step.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading He seemed to be taking the room step by step.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, sleep left him, and he realized that the light, which was now moving slowly across the bookcase, was a real light.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading That the man behind it could not have been there long was plain, or he would have seen the chair and its occupant.
THIEFnounUS /θiːf/
a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading A THIEF IN THE NIGHT How long the light had been darting about the room like a very much enlarged firefly, Jimmy did not know.
wakingadjectiveUS /ˈweɪ.kɪŋ/
Risen from sleep; conscious.
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then, sleep left him, and he realized that the light, which was now moving slowly across the bookcase, was a real light.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading That the man behind it could not have been there long was plain, or he would have seen the chair and its occupant.
wovenadjectiveUS /ˈwoʊvən/
made or constructed by interlacing threads or strips of material or other elements into a whole
From this reading It seemed to him like hours, for it had woven itself into an incoherent waking dream of his; and for a moment, as the mists of sleep passed away from his brain, he fancied that he was dreaming still.
