used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Craven woke abruptly a few hours later with a spasmodic muscular contraction that jerked him into a sitting position.
quickly and without warning
From this reading Craven woke abruptly a few hours later with a spasmodic muscular contraction that jerked him into a sitting position.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
next to; at the side of
From this reading He drank thirstily the tea that was on a table beside him and went to the open window.
blood-stained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he crossed the room the reflection of his blood-stained haggard face, seen in a mirror, startled him.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then remembrance came and he clenched his hands with a stifled groan.
clenchedadjectiveUS /klentʃt/
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading Then remembrance came and he clenched his hands with a stifled groan.
contractionnounUS /kənˈtrækʃən/
(physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)
From this reading Craven woke abruptly a few hours later with a spasmodic muscular contraction that jerked him into a sitting position.
CravenadjectiveUS /ˈkreɪvən/
lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful
From this reading Craven woke abruptly a few hours later with a spasmodic muscular contraction that jerked him into a sitting position.
placed crosswise
From this reading As he crossed the room the reflection of his blood-stained haggard face, seen in a mirror, startled him.
dazedadjectiveUS /deɪzd/
in a state of mental numbness especially as resulting from shock
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
inflected form of “drink” — take in liquids
From this reading He drank thirstily the tea that was on a table beside him and went to the open window.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
earth-stained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading As he crossed the room the reflection of his blood-stained haggard face, seen in a mirror, startled him.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Craven woke abruptly a few hours later with a spasmodic muscular contraction that jerked him into a sitting position.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
groannounUS /ɡroʊn/
an utterance expressing pain or disapproval
From this reading Then remembrance came and he clenched his hands with a stifled groan.
haggardadjectiveUS /ˈhæɡərd/
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading As he crossed the room the reflection of his blood-stained haggard face, seen in a mirror, startled him.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Then remembrance came and he clenched his hands with a stifled groan.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Craven woke abruptly a few hours later with a spasmodic muscular contraction that jerked him into a sitting position.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Craven woke abruptly a few hours later with a spasmodic muscular contraction that jerked him into a sitting position.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As he crossed the room the reflection of his blood-stained haggard face, seen in a mirror, startled him.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Craven woke abruptly a few hours later with a spasmodic muscular contraction that jerked him into a sitting position.
jerkedverbUS /dʒɜːrkt/
past form of “jerk” — pull, or move with a sudden movement
From this reading Craven woke abruptly a few hours later with a spasmodic muscular contraction that jerked him into a sitting position.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Craven woke abruptly a few hours later with a spasmodic muscular contraction that jerked him into a sitting position.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading As he crossed the room the reflection of his blood-stained haggard face, seen in a mirror, startled him.
muscularadjectiveUS /ˈmʌskjələr/
of or relating to or consisting of muscle
From this reading Craven woke abruptly a few hours later with a spasmodic muscular contraction that jerked him into a sitting position.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He drank thirstily the tea that was on a table beside him and went to the open window.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Craven woke abruptly a few hours later with a spasmodic muscular contraction that jerked him into a sitting position.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading As he crossed the room the reflection of his blood-stained haggard face, seen in a mirror, startled him.
remembrancenounUS /riˈmembrəns/
the ability to recall past occurrences
From this reading Then remembrance came and he clenched his hands with a stifled groan.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading As he crossed the room the reflection of his blood-stained haggard face, seen in a mirror, startled him.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading As he crossed the room the reflection of his blood-stained haggard face, seen in a mirror, startled him.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Craven woke abruptly a few hours later with a spasmodic muscular contraction that jerked him into a sitting position.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
spasmodicadjectiveUS /spæzˈmɔːdɪk/
affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions; resembling a spasm
From this reading Craven woke abruptly a few hours later with a spasmodic muscular contraction that jerked him into a sitting position.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading As he crossed the room the reflection of his blood-stained haggard face, seen in a mirror, startled him.
stifledadjectiveUS /ˈstaɪfəld/
held in check with difficulty
From this reading Then remembrance came and he clenched his hands with a stifled groan.
stupidlyadverbUS /ˈstuːpədli/
in a stupid manner
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He drank thirstily the tea that was on a table beside him and went to the open window.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading He drank thirstily the tea that was on a table beside him and went to the open window.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Craven woke abruptly a few hours later with a spasmodic muscular contraction that jerked him into a sitting position.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then remembrance came and he clenched his hands with a stifled groan.
thirstilyadverb
in a thirsty manner
From this reading He drank thirstily the tea that was on a table beside him and went to the open window.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He drank thirstily the tea that was on a table beside him and went to the open window.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He drank thirstily the tea that was on a table beside him and went to the open window.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading He drank thirstily the tea that was on a table beside him and went to the open window.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Craven woke abruptly a few hours later with a spasmodic muscular contraction that jerked him into a sitting position.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading Craven woke abruptly a few hours later with a spasmodic muscular contraction that jerked him into a sitting position.
but in spite of that
From this reading Half dazed as yet with sleep he swung his heels to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed looking stupidly at his dusty boots and earth-stained fingers.
