used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading After that first glance, which was not so much a glance as an actual physical encounter thrust upon him as he came in, he did not look at it again.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After that first glance, which was not so much a glance as an actual physical encounter thrust upon him as he came in, he did not look at it again.
anew
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He put it away from him, however, at once.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He put it away from him, however, at once.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading HIS The letter was still there when he came down....
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading After that first glance, which was not so much a glance as an actual physical encounter thrust upon him as he came in, he did not look at it again.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading HIS The letter was still there when he came down....
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
encounterverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
come together
From this reading After that first glance, which was not so much a glance as an actual physical encounter thrust upon him as he came in, he did not look at it again.
expansenounUS /ɪkˈspæns/
a wide scope
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading After that first glance, which was not so much a glance as an actual physical encounter thrust upon him as he came in, he did not look at it again.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He put it away from him, however, at once.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading After that first glance, which was not so much a glance as an actual physical encounter thrust upon him as he came in, he did not look at it again.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading HIS The letter was still there when he came down....
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading HIS The letter was still there when he came down....
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading He put it away from him, however, at once.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After that first glance, which was not so much a glance as an actual physical encounter thrust upon him as he came in, he did not look at it again.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
lainverbUS /leɪn/
inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading HIS The letter was still there when he came down....
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading After that first glance, which was not so much a glance as an actual physical encounter thrust upon him as he came in, he did not look at it again.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading After that first glance, which was not so much a glance as an actual physical encounter thrust upon him as he came in, he did not look at it again.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading After that first glance, which was not so much a glance as an actual physical encounter thrust upon him as he came in, he did not look at it again.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
on one occasion
From this reading He put it away from him, however, at once.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading After that first glance, which was not so much a glance as an actual physical encounter thrust upon him as he came in, he did not look at it again.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He put it away from him, however, at once.
an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
red-clothed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
cut with a saw
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
not in physical motion
From this reading HIS The letter was still there when he came down....
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HIS The letter was still there when he came down....
in or at that place or location
From this reading HIS The letter was still there when he came down....
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
push forcefully
From this reading After that first glance, which was not so much a glance as an actual physical encounter thrust upon him as he came in, he did not look at it again.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading HIS The letter was still there when he came down....
at the time that
From this reading HIS The letter was still there when he came down....
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading After that first glance, which was not so much a glance as an actual physical encounter thrust upon him as he came in, he did not look at it again.
a Caucasian
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
in the company of; together with
From this reading More and more, as he thought, it had taken upon itself the quality of a dream; so that, when he saw it again, a white shape set upon an expanse of red-clothed kitchen table, it met him with a shock.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had known that it would be there, of course,--had, indeed, lain awake half the night, thinking about it,--but he was surprised to see it, nevertheless.
