used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Jeff turned to help her down she looked at him helplessly, seeing him through a drifting mist that obscured all besides.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading She sank down against his shoulder.
(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 All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading He saw her weakness at a single glance, and, mounting the step, took her in his arms.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading When Jeff turned to help her down she looked at him helplessly, seeing him through a drifting mist that obscured all besides.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
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 CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
the act of departing
From this reading All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
DorisnounUS /ˈdɔːrəs/
(Greek mythology) wife of Nereus and mother of the Nereids
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading When Jeff turned to help her down she looked at him helplessly, seeing him through a drifting mist that obscured all besides.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading When Jeff turned to help her down she looked at him helplessly, seeing him through a drifting mist that obscured all besides.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
faintingverbUS /ˈfeɪntɪŋ/
-ing form of “faint” — pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading He saw her weakness at a single glance, and, mounting the step, took her in his arms.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He saw her weakness at a single glance, and, mounting the step, took her in his arms.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading When Jeff turned to help her down she looked at him helplessly, seeing him through a drifting mist that obscured all besides.
helplesslyadverbUS /ˈhelpləsli/
in a helpless manner
From this reading When Jeff turned to help her down she looked at him helplessly, seeing him through a drifting mist that obscured all besides.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Jeff turned to help her down she looked at him helplessly, seeing him through a drifting mist that obscured all besides.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He saw her weakness at a single glance, and, mounting the step, took her in his arms.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
Jeff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jeff turned to help her down she looked at him helplessly, seeing him through a drifting mist that obscured all besides.
immediately past
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading When Jeff turned to help her down she looked at him helplessly, seeing him through a drifting mist that obscured all besides.
MillverbUS /mɪl/
move about in a confused manner
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
become covered with mist
From this reading When Jeff turned to help her down she looked at him helplessly, seeing him through a drifting mist that obscured all besides.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
mountingnounUS /ˈmaʊntɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading He saw her weakness at a single glance, and, mounting the step, took her in his arms.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
obscuredverbUS /əbsˈkjʊrd/
past form of “obscure” — make less visible or unclear
From this reading When Jeff turned to help her down she looked at him helplessly, seeing him through a drifting mist that obscured all besides.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading She sank down against his shoulder.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
cut with a saw
From this reading He saw her weakness at a single glance, and, mounting the step, took her in his arms.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading When Jeff turned to help her down she looked at him helplessly, seeing him through a drifting mist that obscured all besides.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading She sank down against his shoulder.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading He saw her weakness at a single glance, and, mounting the step, took her in his arms.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading He saw her weakness at a single glance, and, mounting the step, took her in his arms.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Jeff turned to help her down she looked at him helplessly, seeing him through a drifting mist that obscured all besides.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading When Jeff turned to help her down she looked at him helplessly, seeing him through a drifting mist that obscured all besides.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Jeff turned to help her down she looked at him helplessly, seeing him through a drifting mist that obscured all besides.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He saw her weakness at a single glance, and, mounting the step, took her in his arms.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading When Jeff turned to help her down she looked at him helplessly, seeing him through a drifting mist that obscured all besides.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
a flaw or weak point
From this reading He saw her weakness at a single glance, and, mounting the step, took her in his arms.
at the time that
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
in the company of; together with
From this reading CHRISTMAS NIGHT Doris was nearly fainting with cold and misery when they stopped at last before the Mill House door.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading All the previous night she had sat up listening with nerves on edge, and had finally taken her departure in the early morning without food.
