used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
aldernounUS /ˈɔːldər/
wood of any of various alder trees; resistant to underwater rot; used for bridges etc
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
AMBUSHverbUS /ˈæmbʊʃ/
wait in hiding to attack
From this reading AMBUSH Lying in his bunk Harry awoke to the consciousness of another bleak dawn.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading AMBUSH Lying in his bunk Harry awoke to the consciousness of another bleak dawn.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
awaitedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪtɪd/
expected hopefully
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading AMBUSH Lying in his bunk Harry awoke to the consciousness of another bleak dawn.
barriersnounUS /ˈbæriərz/
plural of “barrier” — a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He remembered drearily that to-morrow would be Thanksgiving Day.
blanketnounUS /ˈblæŋkət/
bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
blazingadjectiveUS /ˈbleɪzɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
bleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/
offering little or no hope
From this reading AMBUSH Lying in his bunk Harry awoke to the consciousness of another bleak dawn.
bloomsnounUS /bluːmz/
plural of “bloom” — the organic process of bearing flowers
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
bunknounUS /bʌŋk/
a long trough for feeding cattle
From this reading AMBUSH Lying in his bunk Harry awoke to the consciousness of another bleak dawn.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
clamminessnoun
unpleasant wetness
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
clumpsnounUS /klʌmps/
plural of “clump” — a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
coarseadjectiveUS /kɔːrs/
of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading AMBUSH Lying in his bunk Harry awoke to the consciousness of another bleak dawn.
the first light of day
From this reading AMBUSH Lying in his bunk Harry awoke to the consciousness of another bleak dawn.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He remembered drearily that to-morrow would be Thanksgiving Day.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
drearilyadverb
in a cheerless manner
From this reading He remembered drearily that to-morrow would be Thanksgiving Day.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
faredverbUS /ferd/
past form of “fare” — proceed or get along
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
fellowshipnounUS /ˈfeloʊʃɪp/
an association of people who share common beliefs or activities
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
fence-corners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
frost-kissed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
granitenounUS /ˈɡrænət/
plutonic igneous rock having visibly crystalline texture; generally composed of feldspar and mica and quartz
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
grapesnounUS /ɡreɪps/
plural of “grape” — any of various juicy fruit of the genus Vitis with green or purple skins; grow in clusters
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading AMBUSH Lying in his bunk Harry awoke to the consciousness of another bleak dawn.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
hearthsnounUS /hɑːrθs/
plural of “hearth” — an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
highwaysnounUS /ˈhaɪweɪz/
plural of “highway” — a major road for any form of motor transport
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading AMBUSH Lying in his bunk Harry awoke to the consciousness of another bleak dawn.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AMBUSH Lying in his bunk Harry awoke to the consciousness of another bleak dawn.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading AMBUSH Lying in his bunk Harry awoke to the consciousness of another bleak dawn.
maplesnounUS /ˈmeɪpəlz/
plural of “maple” — wood of any of various maple trees; especially the hard close-grained wood of the sugar maple; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AMBUSH Lying in his bunk Harry awoke to the consciousness of another bleak dawn.
on one occasion
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
purpling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
raspnounUS /ræsp/
uttering in an irritated tone
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
realisedadjectiveUS /ˈriːəlaɪzd/
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading He remembered drearily that to-morrow would be Thanksgiving Day.
remindersnounUS /riˈmaɪndərz/
plural of “reminder” — a message that helps you remember something
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
plural of “sens” — street names for marijuana
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
sharpenedadjectiveUS /ˈʃɑːrpənd/
having the point made sharp
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
smelledverbUS /smeld/
past form of “smell” — inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
sumacnounUS /ˈsuːmæk/
wood of a sumac
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
ThanksgivingnounUS /ˌθæŋksˈɡɪvɪŋ/
fourth Thursday in November in the United States; second Monday in October in Canada; commemorates a feast held in 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag
From this reading He remembered drearily that to-morrow would be Thanksgiving Day.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AMBUSH Lying in his bunk Harry awoke to the consciousness of another bleak dawn.
thicketsnounUS /ˈθɪkəts/
plural of “thicket” — a dense growth of bushes
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AMBUSH Lying in his bunk Harry awoke to the consciousness of another bleak dawn.
to-morrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He remembered drearily that to-morrow would be Thanksgiving Day.
treadmillnounUS /ˈtredmɪl/
an exercise device consisting of an endless belt on which a person can walk or jog without changing place
From this reading He did not open his eyes at once, but he felt the rasp of the coarse blanket at his throat, smelled the cold clamminess of the granite floor, and realised by a thousand reminders of the sharpened senses that another round of the treadmill awaited him.
wakingadjectiveUS /ˈweɪ.kɪŋ/
Risen from sleep; conscious.
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The morning waking was always a pain to him, for in sleep the barriers fell away and the mind fared forth along the free, sweet highways of memory.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He remembered drearily that to-morrow would be Thanksgiving Day.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading In the world outside it was the time of yellow maples and the red of the frost-kissed sumac, of wild grapes purpling in the thickets and clumps of alder blooms in the fence-corners--of blazing hearths and good fellowship!
