used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He seemed to drift into a state of semi-consciousness.
anew
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE COMPACT Wearily Bertrand de Montville turned his head upon the sofa-cushion, and opened his heavy eyes.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
Bertrand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COMPACT Wearily Bertrand de Montville turned his head upon the sofa-cushion, and opened his heavy eyes.
blindsnounUS /blaɪndz/
plural of “blind” — people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading The evening sunlight was screened from his face by blinds, but even so its deep shadows were painfully distinct.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The evening sunlight was screened from his face by blinds, but even so its deep shadows were painfully distinct.
COMPACTnounUS /ˈkɑːmpækt/
a small cosmetics case with a mirror; to be carried in a woman's purse
From this reading THE COMPACT Wearily Bertrand de Montville turned his head upon the sofa-cushion, and opened his heavy eyes.
carefully weighed
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading THE COMPACT Wearily Bertrand de Montville turned his head upon the sofa-cushion, and opened his heavy eyes.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading The evening sunlight was screened from his face by blinds, but even so its deep shadows were painfully distinct.
distinctadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality
From this reading The evening sunlight was screened from his face by blinds, but even so its deep shadows were painfully distinct.
driftverbUS /drɪft/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading He seemed to drift into a state of semi-consciousness.
droopverbUS /druːp/
droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
divisible by two
From this reading The evening sunlight was screened from his face by blinds, but even so its deep shadows were painfully distinct.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The evening sunlight was screened from his face by blinds, but even so its deep shadows were painfully distinct.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
eyelidsnounUS /ˈaɪlɪdz/
plural of “eyelid” — either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
opinion or judgment
From this reading THE COMPACT Wearily Bertrand de Montville turned his head upon the sofa-cushion, and opened his heavy eyes.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The evening sunlight was screened from his face by blinds, but even so its deep shadows were painfully distinct.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The evening sunlight was screened from his face by blinds, but even so its deep shadows were painfully distinct.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading THE COMPACT Wearily Bertrand de Montville turned his head upon the sofa-cushion, and opened his heavy eyes.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading THE COMPACT Wearily Bertrand de Montville turned his head upon the sofa-cushion, and opened his heavy eyes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE COMPACT Wearily Bertrand de Montville turned his head upon the sofa-cushion, and opened his heavy eyes.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He seemed to drift into a state of semi-consciousness.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The evening sunlight was screened from his face by blinds, but even so its deep shadows were painfully distinct.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked unutterably tired.
Montville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COMPACT Wearily Bertrand de Montville turned his head upon the sofa-cushion, and opened his heavy eyes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He seemed to drift into a state of semi-consciousness.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading THE COMPACT Wearily Bertrand de Montville turned his head upon the sofa-cushion, and opened his heavy eyes.
painfullyadverbUS /ˈpeɪnfəli/
unpleasantly
From this reading The evening sunlight was screened from his face by blinds, but even so its deep shadows were painfully distinct.
screenedverbUS /skriːnd/
past form of “screen” — test or examine for the presence of disease or infection
From this reading The evening sunlight was screened from his face by blinds, but even so its deep shadows were painfully distinct.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
semi-consciousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to drift into a state of semi-consciousness.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The evening sunlight was screened from his face by blinds, but even so its deep shadows were painfully distinct.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The evening sunlight was screened from his face by blinds, but even so its deep shadows were painfully distinct.
sofa-cushion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COMPACT Wearily Bertrand de Montville turned his head upon the sofa-cushion, and opened his heavy eyes.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading He seemed to drift into a state of semi-consciousness.
the rays of the sun
From this reading The evening sunlight was screened from his face by blinds, but even so its deep shadows were painfully distinct.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE COMPACT Wearily Bertrand de Montville turned his head upon the sofa-cushion, and opened his heavy eyes.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading He looked unutterably tired.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading THE COMPACT Wearily Bertrand de Montville turned his head upon the sofa-cushion, and opened his heavy eyes.
unutterablyadverb
to an inexpressible degree
From this reading He looked unutterably tired.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE COMPACT Wearily Bertrand de Montville turned his head upon the sofa-cushion, and opened his heavy eyes.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading He seemed to be listening for something, but evidently he considered that he had listened in vain, for his eyelids began to droop again almost immediately.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The evening sunlight was screened from his face by blinds, but even so its deep shadows were painfully distinct.
WearilyadverbUS /ˈwerəli/
in a weary manner
From this reading THE COMPACT Wearily Bertrand de Montville turned his head upon the sofa-cushion, and opened his heavy eyes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The evening sunlight was screened from his face by blinds, but even so its deep shadows were painfully distinct.
