used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
adjoiningverbUS /əˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjoin” — lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She had an almost uncanny dread of this man.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She had an almost uncanny dread of this man.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He seemed to stand in the path as a menace, an evil influence that she could neither avert nor withstand.
avertverbUS /əˈvɜːrt/
prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
From this reading He seemed to stand in the path as a menace, an evil influence that she could neither avert nor withstand.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
Burke'snounUS /bɜːrks/
possessive form of “burke” — British statesman famous for his oratory; pleaded the cause of the American colonists in British Parliament and defended the parliamentary system (1729-1797)
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He seemed to stand in the path as a menace, an evil influence that she could neither avert nor withstand.
courtedverbUS /ˈkɔːrtɪd/
past form of “court” — make amorous advances towards
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading She had an almost uncanny dread of this man.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading He seemed to stand in the path as a menace, an evil influence that she could neither avert nor withstand.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
GuynounUS /ɡaɪ/
an informal term for a youth or man
From this reading The thought of Guy troubled her most, this and the knowledge that Kieff was in the neighbourhood.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had an almost uncanny dread of this man.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He seemed to stand in the path as a menace, an evil influence that she could neither avert nor withstand.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading He seemed to stand in the path as a menace, an evil influence that she could neither avert nor withstand.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
Kelly'snounUS /ˈkeliz/
possessive form of “kelly” — United States circus clown (1898-1979)
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
Kieff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought of Guy troubled her most, this and the knowledge that Kieff was in the neighbourhood.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading The thought of Guy troubled her most, this and the knowledge that Kieff was in the neighbourhood.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
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 THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
mainlyadverbUS /ˈmeɪnli/
for the most part
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading She had an almost uncanny dread of this man.
menaceverbUS /ˈmenəs/
pose a threat to; present a danger to
From this reading He seemed to stand in the path as a menace, an evil influence that she could neither avert nor withstand.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The thought of Guy troubled her most, this and the knowledge that Kieff was in the neighbourhood.
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
neighbourhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading The thought of Guy troubled her most, this and the knowledge that Kieff was in the neighbourhood.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading He seemed to stand in the path as a menace, an evil influence that she could neither avert nor withstand.
NETnounUS /net/
a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading He seemed to stand in the path as a menace, an evil influence that she could neither avert nor withstand.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
many times at short intervals
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
a course of conduct
From this reading He seemed to stand in the path as a menace, an evil influence that she could neither avert nor withstand.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He seemed to stand in the path as a menace, an evil influence that she could neither avert nor withstand.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
be standing; be upright
From this reading He seemed to stand in the path as a menace, an evil influence that she could neither avert nor withstand.
Sylvia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The thought of Guy troubled her most, this and the knowledge that Kieff was in the neighbourhood.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The thought of Guy troubled her most, this and the knowledge that Kieff was in the neighbourhood.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He seemed to stand in the path as a menace, an evil influence that she could neither avert nor withstand.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading The thought of Guy troubled her most, this and the knowledge that Kieff was in the neighbourhood.
turmoilnounUS /ˈtɜːrmɔɪl/
a violent disturbance
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
uncannyadjectiveUS /ənˈkæni/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading She had an almost uncanny dread of this man.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE NET It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain.
withstandverbUS /wɪθˈstænd/
resist or confront with resistance
From this reading He seemed to stand in the path as a menace, an evil influence that she could neither avert nor withstand.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading For some time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest.
