used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading For a long while he did not move at all, but just looked and looked, seemingly afraid to touch the new toy.
(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 For a long while he did not move at all, but just looked and looked, seemingly afraid to touch the new toy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His hands tore vainly at the paper cover, which, in the end, had to be removed by the father.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His hands tore vainly at the paper cover, which, in the end, had to be removed by the father.
a youthful male person
From this reading The boy trembled with excitement.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For a long while he did not move at all, but just looked and looked, seemingly afraid to touch the new toy.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His hands tore vainly at the paper cover, which, in the end, had to be removed by the father.
cardboardnounUS /ˈkɑːrdbɔːrd/
a stiff moderately thick paper
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
cherishedadjectiveUS /ˈtʃerɪʃt/
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading It was his heart's most cherished desire, the thing that had seemed so unattainable that he had deemed it useless to whisper it into his mother's ear.
coloursnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/
a distinguishing emblem
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading His hands tore vainly at the paper cover, which, in the end, had to be removed by the father.
deemedverbUS /diːmd/
past form of “deem” — keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view
From this reading It was his heart's most cherished desire, the thing that had seemed so unattainable that he had deemed it useless to whisper it into his mother's ear.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading It was his heart's most cherished desire, the thing that had seemed so unattainable that he had deemed it useless to whisper it into his mother's ear.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading For a long while he did not move at all, but just looked and looked, seemingly afraid to touch the new toy.
drawbridgenounUS /ˈdrɔːbrɪdʒ/
a bridge that can be raised to block passage or to allow boats or ships to pass beneath it
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading It was his heart's most cherished desire, the thing that had seemed so unattainable that he had deemed it useless to whisper it into his mother's ear.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading His hands tore vainly at the paper cover, which, in the end, had to be removed by the father.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading The boy trembled with excitement.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading His hands tore vainly at the paper cover, which, in the end, had to be removed by the father.
flagstaffnounUS /ˈflæɡstæf/
a town in north central Arizona; site of an important observatory
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
moving swiftly
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a long while he did not move at all, but just looked and looked, seemingly afraid to touch the new toy.
fortressnounUS /ˈfɔːrtrəs/
a fortified defensive structure
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His hands tore vainly at the paper cover, which, in the end, had to be removed by the father.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading His hands tore vainly at the paper cover, which, in the end, had to be removed by the father.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was his heart's most cherished desire, the thing that had seemed so unattainable that he had deemed it useless to whisper it into his mother's ear.
heart'snounUS /hɑːrts/
possessive form of “heart” — the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading It was his heart's most cherished desire, the thing that had seemed so unattainable that he had deemed it useless to whisper it into his mother's ear.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His hands tore vainly at the paper cover, which, in the end, had to be removed by the father.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His hands tore vainly at the paper cover, which, in the end, had to be removed by the father.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was his heart's most cherished desire, the thing that had seemed so unattainable that he had deemed it useless to whisper it into his mother's ear.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
and nothing more
From this reading For a long while he did not move at all, but just looked and looked, seemingly afraid to touch the new toy.
immediately past
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading For a long while he did not move at all, but just looked and looked, seemingly afraid to touch the new toy.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading For a long while he did not move at all, but just looked and looked, seemingly afraid to touch the new toy.
used to form the superlative
From this reading It was his heart's most cherished desire, the thing that had seemed so unattainable that he had deemed it useless to whisper it into his mother's ear.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading It was his heart's most cherished desire, the thing that had seemed so unattainable that he had deemed it useless to whisper it into his mother's ear.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading For a long while he did not move at all, but just looked and looked, seemingly afraid to touch the new toy.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading For a long while he did not move at all, but just looked and looked, seemingly afraid to touch the new toy.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For a long while he did not move at all, but just looked and looked, seemingly afraid to touch the new toy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading His hands tore vainly at the paper cover, which, in the end, had to be removed by the father.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading His hands tore vainly at the paper cover, which, in the end, had to be removed by the father.
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was his heart's most cherished desire, the thing that had seemed so unattainable that he had deemed it useless to whisper it into his mother's ear.
seeminglyadverbUS /ˈsiːmɪŋli/
from appearances alone
From this reading For a long while he did not move at all, but just looked and looked, seemingly afraid to touch the new toy.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was his heart's most cherished desire, the thing that had seemed so unattainable that he had deemed it useless to whisper it into his mother's ear.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
SwedishadjectiveUS /ˈswiːdɪʃ/
of or relating to or characteristic of Sweden or its people or culture or language
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The boy trembled with excitement.
a special situation
From this reading It was his heart's most cherished desire, the thing that had seemed so unattainable that he had deemed it useless to whisper it into his mother's ear.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His hands tore vainly at the paper cover, which, in the end, had to be removed by the father.
the upper part of anything
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
From this reading His hands tore vainly at the paper cover, which, in the end, had to be removed by the father.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading For a long while he did not move at all, but just looked and looked, seemingly afraid to touch the new toy.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading On the table, fully revealed at last, stood a real fortress of cardboard, with a drawbridge that could be raised, and a tower in the centre, and at the top of it a flagstaff flying the Swedish colours.
toynounUS /tɔɪ/
an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading For a long while he did not move at all, but just looked and looked, seemingly afraid to touch the new toy.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading The boy trembled with excitement.
unattainableadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈteɪnəbəl/
impossible to achieve
From this reading It was his heart's most cherished desire, the thing that had seemed so unattainable that he had deemed it useless to whisper it into his mother's ear.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading It was his heart's most cherished desire, the thing that had seemed so unattainable that he had deemed it useless to whisper it into his mother's ear.
vainlyadverbUS /ˈveɪnli/
to no avail
From this reading His hands tore vainly at the paper cover, which, in the end, had to be removed by the father.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was his heart's most cherished desire, the thing that had seemed so unattainable that he had deemed it useless to whisper it into his mother's ear.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His hands tore vainly at the paper cover, which, in the end, had to be removed by the father.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading For a long while he did not move at all, but just looked and looked, seemingly afraid to touch the new toy.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading It was his heart's most cherished desire, the thing that had seemed so unattainable that he had deemed it useless to whisper it into his mother's ear.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The boy trembled with excitement.
