used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY MIRIAM WARD opened the window a little further and looked out.
conforming to your own liking or feelings or nature
From this reading It was nearly midnight and the cold, raw breeze was an agreeable contrast to the atmosphere of the sick room.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was nearly midnight and the cold, raw breeze was an agreeable contrast to the atmosphere of the sick room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY MIRIAM WARD opened the window a little further and looked out.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mrs. Nash's preparations for the night were long-drawn-out and Miriam had found her at her worst.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading It was nearly midnight and the cold, raw breeze was an agreeable contrast to the atmosphere of the sick room.
avowedadjectiveUS /əˈvaʊd/
openly declared as such
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading It was nearly midnight and the cold, raw breeze was an agreeable contrast to the atmosphere of the sick room.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading It was nearly midnight and the cold, raw breeze was an agreeable contrast to the atmosphere of the sick room.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading It was nearly midnight and the cold, raw breeze was an agreeable contrast to the atmosphere of the sick room.
dictatorialadjectiveUS /ˌdɪktəˈtɔːriəl/
of or characteristic of a dictator
From this reading In turn she waxed dictatorial, fault-finding and fretful, and Miriam's stock of patience was severely taxed.
opinion or judgment
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
fault-finding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In turn she waxed dictatorial, fault-finding and fretful, and Miriam's stock of patience was severely taxed.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY MIRIAM WARD opened the window a little further and looked out.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mrs. Nash's preparations for the night were long-drawn-out and Miriam had found her at her worst.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
set up or found
From this reading Mrs. Nash's preparations for the night were long-drawn-out and Miriam had found her at her worst.
fretfuladjectiveUS /ˈfretfəl/
nervous and unable to relax
From this reading In turn she waxed dictatorial, fault-finding and fretful, and Miriam's stock of patience was severely taxed.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY MIRIAM WARD opened the window a little further and looked out.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Nash's preparations for the night were long-drawn-out and Miriam had found her at her worst.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Nash's preparations for the night were long-drawn-out and Miriam had found her at her worst.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
imperativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈperətɪv/
requiring attention or action
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In turn she waxed dictatorial, fault-finding and fretful, and Miriam's stock of patience was severely taxed.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
interminableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɜːrmənəbəl/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was nearly midnight and the cold, raw breeze was an agreeable contrast to the atmosphere of the sick room.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY MIRIAM WARD opened the window a little further and looked out.
long-drawn-out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Nash's preparations for the night were long-drawn-out and Miriam had found her at her worst.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY MIRIAM WARD opened the window a little further and looked out.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading It was nearly midnight and the cold, raw breeze was an agreeable contrast to the atmosphere of the sick room.
MIRIAM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY MIRIAM WARD opened the window a little further and looked out.
Miriam's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In turn she waxed dictatorial, fault-finding and fretful, and Miriam's stock of patience was severely taxed.
a particular point in time
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Nash's preparations for the night were long-drawn-out and Miriam had found her at her worst.
NashnounUS /næʃ/
United States writer noted for his droll epigrams (1902-1971)
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
Nash'snounUS /ˈnæʃɪz/
possessive form of “nash” — United States writer noted for his droll epigrams (1902-1971)
From this reading Mrs. Nash's preparations for the night were long-drawn-out and Miriam had found her at her worst.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was nearly midnight and the cold, raw breeze was an agreeable contrast to the atmosphere of the sick room.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Mrs. Nash's preparations for the night were long-drawn-out and Miriam had found her at her worst.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was nearly midnight and the cold, raw breeze was an agreeable contrast to the atmosphere of the sick room.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY MIRIAM WARD opened the window a little further and looked out.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY MIRIAM WARD opened the window a little further and looked out.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading In turn she waxed dictatorial, fault-finding and fretful, and Miriam's stock of patience was severely taxed.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading Mrs. Nash's preparations for the night were long-drawn-out and Miriam had found her at her worst.
rawadjectiveUS /rɑː/
(used especially of commodities) being unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes
From this reading It was nearly midnight and the cold, raw breeze was an agreeable contrast to the atmosphere of the sick room.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading It was nearly midnight and the cold, raw breeze was an agreeable contrast to the atmosphere of the sick room.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
severelyadverbUS /səˈvɪrli/
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading In turn she waxed dictatorial, fault-finding and fretful, and Miriam's stock of patience was severely taxed.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In turn she waxed dictatorial, fault-finding and fretful, and Miriam's stock of patience was severely taxed.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading It was nearly midnight and the cold, raw breeze was an agreeable contrast to the atmosphere of the sick room.
SPIDERnounUS /ˈspaɪdər/
predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY MIRIAM WARD opened the window a little further and looked out.
the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest
From this reading In turn she waxed dictatorial, fault-finding and fretful, and Miriam's stock of patience was severely taxed.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
taxedverbUS /tækst/
past form of “tax” — levy a tax on
From this reading In turn she waxed dictatorial, fault-finding and fretful, and Miriam's stock of patience was severely taxed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY MIRIAM WARD opened the window a little further and looked out.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was nearly midnight and the cold, raw breeze was an agreeable contrast to the atmosphere of the sick room.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading In turn she waxed dictatorial, fault-finding and fretful, and Miriam's stock of patience was severely taxed.
WARDnounUS /wɔːrd/
a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading THE SPIDER AND THE FLY MIRIAM WARD opened the window a little further and looked out.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was nearly midnight and the cold, raw breeze was an agreeable contrast to the atmosphere of the sick room.
waxedadjectiveUS /wækst/
treated with wax
From this reading In turn she waxed dictatorial, fault-finding and fretful, and Miriam's stock of patience was severely taxed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mrs. Nash's preparations for the night were long-drawn-out and Miriam had found her at her worst.
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 THE SPIDER AND THE FLY MIRIAM WARD opened the window a little further and looked out.
winksnounUS /wɪŋks/
plural of “wink” — a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It seemed an interminable time before Mrs. Nash finally closed her eyes with the avowed intention of taking "forty winks," and the imperative command that she be awakened the moment her husband returned.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading Mrs. Nash's preparations for the night were long-drawn-out and Miriam had found her at her worst.
