used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The twins were in bed, and the little man was lounging for a few idle moments in the doorway of his hut.
(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 All day the claims of his children had upborne him.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading JESSIE'S LETTER Scipio's long day was almost over.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Just now an armistice in his conflict of thought was declared.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The twins were in bed, and the little man was lounging for a few idle moments in the doorway of his hut.
armisticenounUS /ˈɑːrməstəs/
a state of peace agreed to between opponents so they can discuss peace terms
From this reading Just now an armistice in his conflict of thought was declared.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For the moment the exigencies of his immediate duties left him floundering in the wilderness of his desolate heart at the mercy of the pain of memory.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading The twins were in bed, and the little man was lounging for a few idle moments in the doorway of his hut.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading All day the claims of his children had upborne him.
claimsnounUS /kleɪmz/
plural of “claim” — an assertion of a right (as to money or property)
From this reading All day the claims of his children had upborne him.
conflictnounUS /ˈkɑːnflɪkt/
an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)
From this reading Just now an armistice in his conflict of thought was declared.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading JESSIE'S LETTER Scipio's long day was almost over.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading Just now an armistice in his conflict of thought was declared.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading For the moment the exigencies of his immediate duties left him floundering in the wilderness of his desolate heart at the mercy of the pain of memory.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading The twins were in bed, and the little man was lounging for a few idle moments in the doorway of his hut.
plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading For the moment the exigencies of his immediate duties left him floundering in the wilderness of his desolate heart at the mercy of the pain of memory.
exigenciesnounUS /ˌekˈsɪdʒənsiz/
plural of “exigency” — a pressing or urgent situation
From this reading For the moment the exigencies of his immediate duties left him floundering in the wilderness of his desolate heart at the mercy of the pain of memory.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The twins were in bed, and the little man was lounging for a few idle moments in the doorway of his hut.
flounderingverbUS /ˈflaʊndərɪŋ/
-ing form of “flounder” — walk with great difficulty
From this reading For the moment the exigencies of his immediate duties left him floundering in the wilderness of his desolate heart at the mercy of the pain of memory.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The twins were in bed, and the little man was lounging for a few idle moments in the doorway of his hut.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All day the claims of his children had upborne him.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading For the moment the exigencies of his immediate duties left him floundering in the wilderness of his desolate heart at the mercy of the pain of memory.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For the moment the exigencies of his immediate duties left him floundering in the wilderness of his desolate heart at the mercy of the pain of memory.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The twins were in bed, and the little man was lounging for a few idle moments in the doorway of his hut.
temporary military shelter
From this reading The twins were in bed, and the little man was lounging for a few idle moments in the doorway of his hut.
not in action or at work
From this reading The twins were in bed, and the little man was lounging for a few idle moments in the doorway of his hut.
of the present time and place
From this reading For the moment the exigencies of his immediate duties left him floundering in the wilderness of his desolate heart at the mercy of the pain of memory.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The twins were in bed, and the little man was lounging for a few idle moments in the doorway of his hut.
JESSIE'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JESSIE'S LETTER Scipio's long day was almost over.
and nothing more
From this reading Just now an armistice in his conflict of thought was declared.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading For the moment the exigencies of his immediate duties left him floundering in the wilderness of his desolate heart at the mercy of the pain of memory.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading JESSIE'S LETTER Scipio's long day was almost over.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The twins were in bed, and the little man was lounging for a few idle moments in the doorway of his hut.
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 JESSIE'S LETTER Scipio's long day was almost over.
loungingverbUS /ˈlaʊndʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “lounge” — sit or recline comfortably
From this reading The twins were in bed, and the little man was lounging for a few idle moments in the doorway of his hut.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The twins were in bed, and the little man was lounging for a few idle moments in the doorway of his hut.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading For the moment the exigencies of his immediate duties left him floundering in the wilderness of his desolate heart at the mercy of the pain of memory.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading For the moment the exigencies of his immediate duties left him floundering in the wilderness of his desolate heart at the mercy of the pain of memory.
a particular point in time
From this reading For the moment the exigencies of his immediate duties left him floundering in the wilderness of his desolate heart at the mercy of the pain of memory.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading The twins were in bed, and the little man was lounging for a few idle moments in the doorway of his hut.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Just now an armistice in his conflict of thought was declared.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The twins were in bed, and the little man was lounging for a few idle moments in the doorway of his hut.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading JESSIE'S LETTER Scipio's long day was almost over.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading For the moment the exigencies of his immediate duties left him floundering in the wilderness of his desolate heart at the mercy of the pain of memory.
Scipio's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JESSIE'S LETTER Scipio's long day was almost over.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The twins were in bed, and the little man was lounging for a few idle moments in the doorway of his hut.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Just now an armistice in his conflict of thought was declared.
twinsnounUS /twɪnz/
(mineralogy) two interwoven crystals that are mirror images on each other
From this reading The twins were in bed, and the little man was lounging for a few idle moments in the doorway of his hut.
upborne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All day the claims of his children had upborne him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading JESSIE'S LETTER Scipio's long day was almost over.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The twins were in bed, and the little man was lounging for a few idle moments in the doorway of his hut.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading For the moment the exigencies of his immediate duties left him floundering in the wilderness of his desolate heart at the mercy of the pain of memory.
