used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A couple of such tempests formed part of Keith's earliest reliable memories.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For a while he lay quite still, but with wide-open eyes and ears.
a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
any thing at all
From this reading VII As a rule Keith slept far too soundly to be aroused by anything.
arousedadjectiveUS /ərˈaʊzd/
aroused to action
From this reading VII As a rule Keith slept far too soundly to be aroused by anything.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading VII As a rule Keith slept far too soundly to be aroused by anything.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading VII As a rule Keith slept far too soundly to be aroused by anything.
bleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/
offering little or no hope
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading VII As a rule Keith slept far too soundly to be aroused by anything.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading One night, however, there was so much loud talking in the room that he woke up completely.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading A couple of such tempests formed part of Keith's earliest reliable memories.
cuttingnounUS /ˈkʌtɪŋ/
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
earliestadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrliəst/
(comparative and superlative of “early”) more early than; most early
From this reading A couple of such tempests formed part of Keith's earliest reliable memories.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading For a while he lay quite still, but with wide-open eyes and ears.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
opinion or judgment
From this reading For a while he lay quite still, but with wide-open eyes and ears.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading VII As a rule Keith slept far too soundly to be aroused by anything.
flaredverbUS /flerd/
past form of “flare” — burn brightly
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
floodsnounUS /flʌdz/
plural of “flood” — the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a while he lay quite still, but with wide-open eyes and ears.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading A couple of such tempests formed part of Keith's earliest reliable memories.
the act of giving
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One night, however, there was so much loud talking in the room that he woke up completely.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading One night, however, there was so much loud talking in the room that he woke up completely.
hystericaladjectiveUS /hɪˈsterɪkəl/
characterized by or arising from psychoneurotic hysteria
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
Keith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading VII As a rule Keith slept far too soundly to be aroused by anything.
Keith's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A couple of such tempests formed part of Keith's earliest reliable memories.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading For a while he lay quite still, but with wide-open eyes and ears.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading One night, however, there was so much loud talking in the room that he woke up completely.
memoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/
Recollections of past events.
From this reading A couple of such tempests formed part of Keith's earliest reliable memories.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading One night, however, there was so much loud talking in the room that he woke up completely.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading One night, however, there was so much loud talking in the room that he woke up completely.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One night, however, there was so much loud talking in the room that he woke up completely.
outburstsnounUS /ˈaʊtbɜːrsts/
plural of “outburst” — an unrestrained expression of emotion
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading A couple of such tempests formed part of Keith's earliest reliable memories.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading For a while he lay quite still, but with wide-open eyes and ears.
reliableadjectiveUS /rɪˈlaɪəbəl/
worthy of reliance or trust
From this reading A couple of such tempests formed part of Keith's earliest reliable memories.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading One night, however, there was so much loud talking in the room that he woke up completely.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading VII As a rule Keith slept far too soundly to be aroused by anything.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading VII As a rule Keith slept far too soundly to be aroused by anything.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading One night, however, there was so much loud talking in the room that he woke up completely.
soundlyadverbUS /ˈsaʊndli/
deeply or completely
From this reading VII As a rule Keith slept far too soundly to be aroused by anything.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
not in physical motion
From this reading For a while he lay quite still, but with wide-open eyes and ears.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading A couple of such tempests formed part of Keith's earliest reliable memories.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading One night, however, there was so much loud talking in the room that he woke up completely.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
tempests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A couple of such tempests formed part of Keith's earliest reliable memories.
a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One night, however, there was so much loud talking in the room that he woke up completely.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading One night, however, there was so much loud talking in the room that he woke up completely.
VIInoun
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading VII As a rule Keith slept far too soundly to be aroused by anything.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One night, however, there was so much loud talking in the room that he woke up completely.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
at the time that
From this reading But there were moments, too, when her tenderness flared into startling outbursts of bleak, cutting anger, giving way in the end to floods of hysterical tears.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading For a while he lay quite still, but with wide-open eyes and ears.
wide-openadjective
open wide
From this reading For a while he lay quite still, but with wide-open eyes and ears.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For a while he lay quite still, but with wide-open eyes and ears.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading One night, however, there was so much loud talking in the room that he woke up completely.
