used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had been half conscious for some time of a noise in the room, a fidgeting little noise, that teased her sleep for a time, and finally awoke her completely.
Alice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alice had slept quietly for some time.
(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 It was for all that time an unbroken sleep, and then she wakened.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was for all that time an unbroken sleep, and then she wakened.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The old clock at the foot of the stairs had purred and struck twice since she had ceased listening and thinking.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The old clock at the foot of the stairs had purred and struck twice since she had ceased listening and thinking.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading She had been half conscious for some time of a noise in the room, a fidgeting little noise, that teased her sleep for a time, and finally awoke her completely.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been half conscious for some time of a noise in the room, a fidgeting little noise, that teased her sleep for a time, and finally awoke her completely.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading The old clock at the foot of the stairs had purred and struck twice since she had ceased listening and thinking.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading The old clock at the foot of the stairs had purred and struck twice since she had ceased listening and thinking.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading She had been half conscious for some time of a noise in the room, a fidgeting little noise, that teased her sleep for a time, and finally awoke her completely.
intentionally conceived
From this reading She had been half conscious for some time of a noise in the room, a fidgeting little noise, that teased her sleep for a time, and finally awoke her completely.
fidgetingverbUS /ˈfɪdʒətɪŋ/
-ing form of “fidget” — move restlessly
From this reading She had been half conscious for some time of a noise in the room, a fidgeting little noise, that teased her sleep for a time, and finally awoke her completely.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading She had been half conscious for some time of a noise in the room, a fidgeting little noise, that teased her sleep for a time, and finally awoke her completely.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The old clock at the foot of the stairs had purred and struck twice since she had ceased listening and thinking.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Alice had slept quietly for some time.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Alice had slept quietly for some time.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading She had been half conscious for some time of a noise in the room, a fidgeting little noise, that teased her sleep for a time, and finally awoke her completely.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had been half conscious for some time of a noise in the room, a fidgeting little noise, that teased her sleep for a time, and finally awoke her completely.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had been half conscious for some time of a noise in the room, a fidgeting little noise, that teased her sleep for a time, and finally awoke her completely.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was for all that time an unbroken sleep, and then she wakened.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading The old clock at the foot of the stairs had purred and struck twice since she had ceased listening and thinking.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had been half conscious for some time of a noise in the room, a fidgeting little noise, that teased her sleep for a time, and finally awoke her completely.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading She had been half conscious for some time of a noise in the room, a fidgeting little noise, that teased her sleep for a time, and finally awoke her completely.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The old clock at the foot of the stairs had purred and struck twice since she had ceased listening and thinking.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old clock at the foot of the stairs had purred and struck twice since she had ceased listening and thinking.
purred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old clock at the foot of the stairs had purred and struck twice since she had ceased listening and thinking.
with low volume
From this reading Alice had slept quietly for some time.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading She had been half conscious for some time of a noise in the room, a fidgeting little noise, that teased her sleep for a time, and finally awoke her completely.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The old clock at the foot of the stairs had purred and struck twice since she had ceased listening and thinking.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The old clock at the foot of the stairs had purred and struck twice since she had ceased listening and thinking.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading It was for all that time an unbroken sleep, and then she wakened.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading Alice had slept quietly for some time.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Alice had slept quietly for some time.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The old clock at the foot of the stairs had purred and struck twice since she had ceased listening and thinking.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading The old clock at the foot of the stairs had purred and struck twice since she had ceased listening and thinking.
teasedadjectiveUS /tiːzd/
feeling mild pleasurable excitement
From this reading She had been half conscious for some time of a noise in the room, a fidgeting little noise, that teased her sleep for a time, and finally awoke her completely.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was for all that time an unbroken sleep, and then she wakened.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THROUGH THE WALL.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It was for all that time an unbroken sleep, and then she wakened.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading The old clock at the foot of the stairs had purred and struck twice since she had ceased listening and thinking.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading THROUGH THE WALL.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Alice had slept quietly for some time.
two times
From this reading The old clock at the foot of the stairs had purred and struck twice since she had ceased listening and thinking.
unbrokenadjectiveUS /ənˈbroʊkən/
marked by continuous or uninterrupted extension in space or time or sequence
From this reading It was for all that time an unbroken sleep, and then she wakened.
wakened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was for all that time an unbroken sleep, and then she wakened.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading THROUGH THE WALL.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was for all that time an unbroken sleep, and then she wakened.
