used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A hush was over everything when Paul first awoke--the hush of a hot, drowsy noontide.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
in a state of sleep
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading A hush was over everything when Paul first awoke--the hush of a hot, drowsy noontide.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading He opened his eyes wide and sat up in bed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But his arm met empty space.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
caressesnounUS /kərˈesɪz/
plural of “caress” — a gentle affectionate stroking (or something resembling it)
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
drowsyadjectiveUS /ˈdraʊzi/
half asleep
From this reading A hush was over everything when Paul first awoke--the hush of a hot, drowsy noontide.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading But his arm met empty space.
envelopverbUS /ɪnˈveləp/
enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading A hush was over everything when Paul first awoke--the hush of a hot, drowsy noontide.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He opened his eyes wide and sat up in bed.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading A hush was over everything when Paul first awoke--the hush of a hot, drowsy noontide.
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading A hush was over everything when Paul first awoke--the hush of a hot, drowsy noontide.
become quiet or still; fall silent
From this reading A hush was over everything when Paul first awoke--the hush of a hot, drowsy noontide.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He opened his eyes wide and sat up in bed.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
held dear
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading But his arm met empty space.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
noontidenoun
the middle of the day
From this reading A hush was over everything when Paul first awoke--the hush of a hot, drowsy noontide.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A hush was over everything when Paul first awoke--the hush of a hot, drowsy noontide.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading He opened his eyes wide and sat up in bed.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A hush was over everything when Paul first awoke--the hush of a hot, drowsy noontide.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading A hush was over everything when Paul first awoke--the hush of a hot, drowsy noontide.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He opened his eyes wide and sat up in bed.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading But his arm met empty space.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A hush was over everything when Paul first awoke--the hush of a hot, drowsy noontide.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading What was this?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He opened his eyes wide and sat up in bed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A hush was over everything when Paul first awoke--the hush of a hot, drowsy noontide.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What was this?
at the time that
From this reading A hush was over everything when Paul first awoke--the hush of a hot, drowsy noontide.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading He opened his eyes wide and sat up in bed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
but in spite of that
From this reading He stretched out his arm to touch his loved one, as was his custom, to draw her near and envelop her with caresses and greeting--an instinct which came to him while yet half asleep.
