used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AN AFFAIR OF STATE Selden took train for Nice next morning with a sense of impending calamity.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading AN AFFAIR OF STATE Selden took train for Nice next morning with a sense of impending calamity.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He was almost sorry he had not heeded his impulse to run away--to leave his lamp unlit!
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN AFFAIR OF STATE Selden took train for Nice next morning with a sense of impending calamity.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had slept badly, disturbed by elusively threatening dreams, and his brain was muggy and distraught.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He was almost sorry he had not heeded his impulse to run away--to leave his lamp unlit!
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading He had slept badly, disturbed by elusively threatening dreams, and his brain was muggy and distraught.
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 He had slept badly, disturbed by elusively threatening dreams, and his brain was muggy and distraught.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had slept badly, disturbed by elusively threatening dreams, and his brain was muggy and distraught.
calamitynounUS /kəˈlæməti/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading AN AFFAIR OF STATE Selden took train for Nice next morning with a sense of impending calamity.
depressedadjectiveUS /dɪˈprest/
lower than previously
From this reading He was greatly depressed.
distraughtadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrɔːt/
deeply agitated especially from emotion
From this reading He had slept badly, disturbed by elusively threatening dreams, and his brain was muggy and distraught.
having the place or position changed
From this reading He had slept badly, disturbed by elusively threatening dreams, and his brain was muggy and distraught.
plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep
From this reading He had slept badly, disturbed by elusively threatening dreams, and his brain was muggy and distraught.
elusively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had slept badly, disturbed by elusively threatening dreams, and his brain was muggy and distraught.
emotionaladjectiveUS /ɪˈmoʊʃənəl/
determined or actuated by emotion rather than reason
From this reading The emotional events of the previous evening had overtaxed his nerves.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The emotional events of the previous evening had overtaxed his nerves.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading The emotional events of the previous evening had overtaxed his nerves.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading AN AFFAIR OF STATE Selden took train for Nice next morning with a sense of impending calamity.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading He was greatly depressed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The emotional events of the previous evening had overtaxed his nerves.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was greatly depressed.
heededverbUS /ˈhiːdəd/
past form of “heed” — pay close attention to; give heed to
From this reading He was almost sorry he had not heeded his impulse to run away--to leave his lamp unlit!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The emotional events of the previous evening had overtaxed his nerves.
impendingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpendɪŋ/
close in time; about to occur
From this reading AN AFFAIR OF STATE Selden took train for Nice next morning with a sense of impending calamity.
an instinctive motive
From this reading He was almost sorry he had not heeded his impulse to run away--to leave his lamp unlit!
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading He was almost sorry he had not heeded his impulse to run away--to leave his lamp unlit!
go away from a place
From this reading He was almost sorry he had not heeded his impulse to run away--to leave his lamp unlit!
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading AN AFFAIR OF STATE Selden took train for Nice next morning with a sense of impending calamity.
muggyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌɡi/
hot or warm and humid
From this reading He had slept badly, disturbed by elusively threatening dreams, and his brain was muggy and distraught.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading The emotional events of the previous evening had overtaxed his nerves.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading AN AFFAIR OF STATE Selden took train for Nice next morning with a sense of impending calamity.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading AN AFFAIR OF STATE Selden took train for Nice next morning with a sense of impending calamity.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was almost sorry he had not heeded his impulse to run away--to leave his lamp unlit!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN AFFAIR OF STATE Selden took train for Nice next morning with a sense of impending calamity.
overtaxedverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈtækst/
past form of “overtax” — tax excessively
From this reading The emotional events of the previous evening had overtaxed his nerves.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading The emotional events of the previous evening had overtaxed his nerves.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading He was almost sorry he had not heeded his impulse to run away--to leave his lamp unlit!
Selden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN AFFAIR OF STATE Selden took train for Nice next morning with a sense of impending calamity.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading AN AFFAIR OF STATE Selden took train for Nice next morning with a sense of impending calamity.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading He had slept badly, disturbed by elusively threatening dreams, and his brain was muggy and distraught.
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading He was almost sorry he had not heeded his impulse to run away--to leave his lamp unlit!
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading AN AFFAIR OF STATE Selden took train for Nice next morning with a sense of impending calamity.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The emotional events of the previous evening had overtaxed his nerves.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading He had slept badly, disturbed by elusively threatening dreams, and his brain was muggy and distraught.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was almost sorry he had not heeded his impulse to run away--to leave his lamp unlit!
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading AN AFFAIR OF STATE Selden took train for Nice next morning with a sense of impending calamity.
create by training and teaching
From this reading AN AFFAIR OF STATE Selden took train for Nice next morning with a sense of impending calamity.
unlitadjective
not set afire or burning
From this reading He was almost sorry he had not heeded his impulse to run away--to leave his lamp unlit!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was greatly depressed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading AN AFFAIR OF STATE Selden took train for Nice next morning with a sense of impending calamity.
