used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
(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 the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Familiar voices informed her that her friends were awake about her, and she was comforted.
in a state of sleep
From this reading She tried to fall asleep before the noise should cease, but gradually the estancia sank into silence, and she was still awake.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading Familiar voices informed her that her friends were awake about her, and she was comforted.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She tried to fall asleep before the noise should cease, but gradually the estancia sank into silence, and she was still awake.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading THE FLIGHT But though the light burned in her room, Cynthia did not sleep till daybreak.
bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/
a rapid active commotion
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE FLIGHT But though the light burned in her room, Cynthia did not sleep till daybreak.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
ceaseverbUS /siːs/
put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading She tried to fall asleep before the noise should cease, but gradually the estancia sank into silence, and she was still awake.
comfortedadjectiveUS /ˈkʌmfərtɪd/
made comfortable or more comfortable in a time of distress
From this reading Familiar voices informed her that her friends were awake about her, and she was comforted.
companionshipnounUS /kəmˈpænjənʃɪp/
the state of being with someone
From this reading She welcomed it for its companionship.
CynthianounUS /ˈsɪnθiə/
(Greek mythology) the virgin goddess of the hunt and the Moon; daughter of Leto and twin sister of Apollo; identified with Roman Diana
From this reading THE FLIGHT But though the light burned in her room, Cynthia did not sleep till daybreak.
daybreaknounUS /ˈdeɪbreɪk/
the first light of day
From this reading THE FLIGHT But though the light burned in her room, Cynthia did not sleep till daybreak.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading THE FLIGHT But though the light burned in her room, Cynthia did not sleep till daybreak.
estancia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tried to fall asleep before the noise should cease, but gradually the estancia sank into silence, and she was still awake.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading She tried to fall asleep before the noise should cease, but gradually the estancia sank into silence, and she was still awake.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading Familiar voices informed her that her friends were awake about her, and she was comforted.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading THE FLIGHT But though the light burned in her room, Cynthia did not sleep till daybreak.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Familiar voices informed her that her friends were awake about her, and she was comforted.
in a gradual manner
From this reading She tried to fall asleep before the noise should cease, but gradually the estancia sank into silence, and she was still awake.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE FLIGHT But though the light burned in her room, Cynthia did not sleep till daybreak.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE FLIGHT But though the light burned in her room, Cynthia did not sleep till daybreak.
having much knowledge or education
From this reading Familiar voices informed her that her friends were awake about her, and she was comforted.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She tried to fall asleep before the noise should cease, but gradually the estancia sank into silence, and she was still awake.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She welcomed it for its companionship.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading She welcomed it for its companionship.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading THE FLIGHT But though the light burned in her room, Cynthia did not sleep till daybreak.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading She tried to fall asleep before the noise should cease, but gradually the estancia sank into silence, and she was still awake.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE FLIGHT But though the light burned in her room, Cynthia did not sleep till daybreak.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
passagesnounUS /ˈpæsədʒəz/
plural of “passage” — the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE FLIGHT But though the light burned in her room, Cynthia did not sleep till daybreak.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading She tried to fall asleep before the noise should cease, but gradually the estancia sank into silence, and she was still awake.
try to get or reach
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading She tried to fall asleep before the noise should cease, but gradually the estancia sank into silence, and she was still awake.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading She tried to fall asleep before the noise should cease, but gradually the estancia sank into silence, and she was still awake.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading THE FLIGHT But though the light burned in her room, Cynthia did not sleep till daybreak.
not in physical motion
From this reading She tried to fall asleep before the noise should cease, but gradually the estancia sank into silence, and she was still awake.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Familiar voices informed her that her friends were awake about her, and she was comforted.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FLIGHT But though the light burned in her room, Cynthia did not sleep till daybreak.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading THE FLIGHT But though the light burned in her room, Cynthia did not sleep till daybreak.
up to a particular time
From this reading THE FLIGHT But though the light burned in her room, Cynthia did not sleep till daybreak.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading She tried to fall asleep before the noise should cease, but gradually the estancia sank into silence, and she was still awake.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Familiar voices informed her that her friends were awake about her, and she was comforted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
welcomedverbUS /ˈwelkəmd/
past form of “welcome” — accept gladly
From this reading She welcomed it for its companionship.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Familiar voices informed her that her friends were awake about her, and she was comforted.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For the first few hours there was a strange bustle about the passages of the house, for which she did not seek at all to find a cause.
