used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
anew
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “I’ll rouse you if there’s any danger.”
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading The Tunic “Marguerite, you must go to bed,” said Paul.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
colourlessadjective
lacking in variety and interest
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading “I’ll rouse you if there’s any danger.”
absence of light or illumination
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
the first light of day
From this reading It was very near to the dawn now.
expectationnounUS /ˌekspekˈteɪʃən/
belief about (or mental picture of) the future
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
opinion or judgment
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
freshnessnounUS /ˈfreʃnəs/
the property of being pure and fresh (as if newly made); not stale or deteriorated
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The Tunic “Marguerite, you must go to bed,” said Paul.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll rouse you if there’s any danger.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I’ll rouse you if there’s any danger.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
invadingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈveɪdɪŋ/
involving invasion or aggressive attack
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was very near to the dawn now.
lainverbUS /leɪn/
inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
immediately past
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
MargueritenounUS /ˌmɑːrɡərˈiːt/
tall leafy-stemmed Eurasian perennial with white flowers; widely naturalized; often placed in genus Chrysanthemum
From this reading The Tunic “Marguerite, you must go to bed,” said Paul.
Marguerite's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
used to form the superlative
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The Tunic “Marguerite, you must go to bed,” said Paul.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading It was very near to the dawn now.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was very near to the dawn now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
and nothing more
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
patchnounUS /pætʃ/
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading The Tunic “Marguerite, you must go to bed,” said Paul.
rouseverbUS /raʊs/
become active
From this reading “I’ll rouse you if there’s any danger.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The Tunic “Marguerite, you must go to bed,” said Paul.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
swooningadjectiveUS /ˈswuːnɪŋ/
weak and likely to lose consciousness
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Tunic “Marguerite, you must go to bed,” said Paul.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
there's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll rouse you if there’s any danger.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Tunic “Marguerite, you must go to bed,” said Paul.
TunicnounUS /ˈtuːnɪk/
an enveloping or covering membrane or layer of body tissue
From this reading The Tunic “Marguerite, you must go to bed,” said Paul.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was very near to the dawn now.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was very near to the dawn now.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was a freshness and an expectation in the air; a faint colourless light was invading the darkness; in the patch of sky above their heads the bright stars were swooning.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For most of this last half hour Marguerite’s head had lain heavy upon his shoulder, and if she opened her eyes it was only to close them again with a sigh of content.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The Tunic “Marguerite, you must go to bed,” said Paul.
