used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The winter nights, following days spent largely indoors with little company and less exercise, were quite different.
any thing at all
From this reading He was too healthily tired for anything but sleep.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading And the more he was thrown back on his own resources, the more tempting those games became.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading And the more he was thrown back on his own resources, the more tempting those games became.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading They represented, besides, something that was entirely his own, with which no one else could interfere.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was too healthily tired for anything but sleep.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading The winter nights, following days spent largely indoors with little company and less exercise, were quite different.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They represented, besides, something that was entirely his own, with which no one else could interfere.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The winter nights, following days spent largely indoors with little company and less exercise, were quite different.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading The winter nights, following days spent largely indoors with little company and less exercise, were quite different.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They represented, besides, something that was entirely his own, with which no one else could interfere.
enticingadjectiveUS /enˈtaɪsɪŋ/
highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading They represented, besides, something that was entirely his own, with which no one else could interfere.
the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit
From this reading The winter nights, following days spent largely indoors with little company and less exercise, were quite different.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading The winter nights, following days spent largely indoors with little company and less exercise, were quite different.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was too healthily tired for anything but sleep.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
gamesnounUS /ɡeɪmz/
plural of “game” — a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was too healthily tired for anything but sleep.
healthilyadverb
in a levelheaded manner
From this reading He was too healthily tired for anything but sleep.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And the more he was thrown back on his own resources, the more tempting those games became.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
indoorsadverbUS /ˈɪndɔːrz/
within a building
From this reading The winter nights, following days spent largely indoors with little company and less exercise, were quite different.
interfereverbUS /ˌɪntərˈfɪr/
come between so as to be hindrance or obstacle
From this reading They represented, besides, something that was entirely his own, with which no one else could interfere.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
largelyadverbUS /ˈlɑːrdʒli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading The winter nights, following days spent largely indoors with little company and less exercise, were quite different.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading The winter nights, following days spent largely indoors with little company and less exercise, were quite different.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The winter nights, following days spent largely indoors with little company and less exercise, were quite different.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading And the more he was thrown back on his own resources, the more tempting those games became.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading The winter nights, following days spent largely indoors with little company and less exercise, were quite different.
not any; not one
From this reading They represented, besides, something that was entirely his own, with which no one else could interfere.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And the more he was thrown back on his own resources, the more tempting those games became.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They represented, besides, something that was entirely his own, with which no one else could interfere.
and nothing more
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading And the more he was thrown back on his own resources, the more tempting those games became.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
an amount of time
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The winter nights, following days spent largely indoors with little company and less exercise, were quite different.
represented accurately or precisely
From this reading They represented, besides, something that was entirely his own, with which no one else could interfere.
resourcesnounUS /ˈriːsɔːrsɪz/
plural of “resource” — available source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed
From this reading And the more he was thrown back on his own resources, the more tempting those games became.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading He was too healthily tired for anything but sleep.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading They represented, besides, something that was entirely his own, with which no one else could interfere.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading The winter nights, following days spent largely indoors with little company and less exercise, were quite different.
temptingadjectiveUS /ˈtemptɪŋ/
highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire
From this reading And the more he was thrown back on his own resources, the more tempting those games became.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They represented, besides, something that was entirely his own, with which no one else could interfere.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The winter nights, following days spent largely indoors with little company and less exercise, were quite different.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They represented, besides, something that was entirely his own, with which no one else could interfere.
a special situation
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading And the more he was thrown back on his own resources, the more tempting those games became.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading And the more he was thrown back on his own resources, the more tempting those games became.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading He was too healthily tired for anything but sleep.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He was too healthily tired for anything but sleep.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
wakefulnessnoun
a periodic state during which you are conscious and aware of the world
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was too healthily tired for anything but sleep.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The winter nights, following days spent largely indoors with little company and less exercise, were quite different.
at the time that
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They represented, besides, something that was entirely his own, with which no one else could interfere.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The winter nights, following days spent largely indoors with little company and less exercise, were quite different.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The winter nights, following days spent largely indoors with little company and less exercise, were quite different.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Then the passing from wakefulness to sleep took him through a dangerous twilight period, when games of the kind learned behind the big rock seemed not only natural, but the most enticing thing in the world.
