used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
anew
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
(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 But here in the wood all was so still.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
in a state of sleep
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
beesnounUS /biːz/
plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
the act of breaking something
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But here in the wood all was so still.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
ceaselessadjectiveUS /ˈsiːslɪs/
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
chirpverbUS /tʃɜːrp/
make high-pitched sounds
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
combsnounUS /koʊmz/
plural of “comb” — a flat device with narrow pointed teeth on one edge; disentangles or arranges hair
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
convinceverbUS /kənˈvɪns/
make (someone) agree, understand, or realize the truth or validity of something
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
dreamingnounUS /ˈdriːmɪŋ/
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
dreamyadjectiveUS /ˈdriːmi/
dreamy in mood or nature
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
divisible by two
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
field-mouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
heavingnounUS /ˈhiːvɪŋ/
an upward movement (especially a rhythmical rising and falling)
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading But here in the wood all was so still.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
a particular point in time
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
mothnounUS /mɔːθ/
typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
nestsnounUS /nests/
plural of “nest” — a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
and nothing more
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
peacefullyadverbUS /ˈpiːsfəli/
in a peaceful manner
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
squirrelnounUS /ˈskwɜːrəl/
a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
not in physical motion
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
move an implement through
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Before the night passed away the Child awoke, and started up on his feet, to convince himself he was not still dreaming.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
at any time that; every time that
From this reading Whenever he awoke in his own little cave, the waves were heaving and breaking against the rocks far below; he felt there was something awake beside himself, and he was not alone; and so, after listening a few minutes to the ceaseless song, he fell peacefully asleep again.
whiznounUS /wɪz/
someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The bees were fast asleep hanging to their combs; not a field-mouse nor a squirrel was stirring near him; even the winds seemed to have fallen asleep among the branches, and the birds rested in their warm nests.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading But here in the wood all was so still.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Only now and then a little bird gave a slight dreamy stir and chirp, as if it were talking in its sleep; or a large moth would whiz past him, and be out of hearing in a moment.
