used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE WEB A LONG-DRAWN sigh cut the stillness.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Slowly Miriam Ward raised her head and struggled to a more upright position.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
beamnounUS /biːm/
a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE WEB A LONG-DRAWN sigh cut the stillness.
comprehensionnounUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhenʃən/
an ability to understand the meaning or importance of something (or the knowledge acquired as a result)
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
crampedadjectiveUS /kræmpt/
constricted in size
From this reading Her limbs felt stiff and cramped and she moved with difficulty.
creepverbUS /kriːp/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE WEB A LONG-DRAWN sigh cut the stillness.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading Her limbs felt stiff and cramped and she moved with difficulty.
extendverbUS /ɪkˈstend/
extend in scope or range or area
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Her limbs felt stiff and cramped and she moved with difficulty.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Slowly Miriam Ward raised her head and struggled to a more upright position.
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Slowly Miriam Ward raised her head and struggled to a more upright position.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE WEB A LONG-DRAWN sigh cut the stillness.
indirectlyadverbUS /ˌɪndərˈektliː/
not in a forthright manner
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading Her limbs felt stiff and cramped and she moved with difficulty.
LONG-DRAWN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE WEB A LONG-DRAWN sigh cut the stillness.
Miriam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly Miriam Ward raised her head and struggled to a more upright position.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Slowly Miriam Ward raised her head and struggled to a more upright position.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Her limbs felt stiff and cramped and she moved with difficulty.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
overcameverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈkeɪm/
inflected form of “overcome” — win a victory over
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Slowly Miriam Ward raised her head and struggled to a more upright position.
radiancenounUS /ˈreɪdiːəns/
the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading Slowly Miriam Ward raised her head and struggled to a more upright position.
recollectionnounUS /ˌrekəˈlekʃən/
the ability to recall past occurrences
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her limbs felt stiff and cramped and she moved with difficulty.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE WEB A LONG-DRAWN sigh cut the stillness.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Slowly Miriam Ward raised her head and struggled to a more upright position.
stareverbUS /ster/
look at with fixed eyes
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading Her limbs felt stiff and cramped and she moved with difficulty.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE WEB A LONG-DRAWN sigh cut the stillness.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading Slowly Miriam Ward raised her head and struggled to a more upright position.
suffocationnounUS /ˌsʌfəˈkeɪʃən/
killing by depriving of oxygen
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE WEB A LONG-DRAWN sigh cut the stillness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Slowly Miriam Ward raised her head and struggled to a more upright position.
create by training and teaching
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
underneathprepositionUS /ˌʌndərˈniːθ/
directly under, often hidden by what is above
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading Slowly Miriam Ward raised her head and struggled to a more upright position.
WardnounUS /wɔːrd/
a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading Slowly Miriam Ward raised her head and struggled to a more upright position.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
WEBnounUS /web/
an intricate network suggesting something that was formed by weaving or interweaving
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE WEB A LONG-DRAWN sigh cut the stillness.
wideningnounUS /ˈwaɪdənɪŋ/
an increase in width
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading The current of air from the opened window blowing indirectly upon her overcame her sense of suffocation, but her wild stare about the bedroom did not bring recollection in its train.
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 Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her limbs felt stiff and cramped and she moved with difficulty.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without comprehension she watched a beam of light creep from underneath a window curtain and extend across the floor, its radiance widening as the sun rose higher in the heavens.
