used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “If I’ve failed--” He pulled himself together with an effort.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading He remembered that his mother was watching him eagerly--anxiously.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
blurverbUS /blɜːr/
become glassy; lose clear vision
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading He caught his breath sharply.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading He caught his breath sharply.
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading He remembered that his mother was watching him eagerly--anxiously.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading “If I’ve failed--” He pulled himself together with an effort.
opinion or judgment
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading “If I’ve failed--” He pulled himself together with an effort.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
featherverbUS /ˈfeðər/
join tongue and groove, in carpentry
From this reading “I won’t show the white feather before her, no matter what happens,” he told himself, fiercely.
fiercelyadverbUS /ˈfɪrsli/
in a physically fierce manner
From this reading “I won’t show the white feather before her, no matter what happens,” he told himself, fiercely.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading “I won’t show the white feather before her, no matter what happens,” he told himself, fiercely.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He caught his breath sharply.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “I won’t show the white feather before her, no matter what happens,” he told himself, fiercely.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “I won’t show the white feather before her, no matter what happens,” he told himself, fiercely.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He caught his breath sharply.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I won’t show the white feather before her, no matter what happens,” he told himself, fiercely.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I’ve failed--” He pulled himself together with an effort.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “If I’ve failed--” He pulled himself together with an effort.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
the literary culture
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading “I won’t show the white feather before her, no matter what happens,” he told himself, fiercely.
mistyadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsti/
filled or abounding with fog or mist
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading He remembered that his mother was watching him eagerly--anxiously.
not any; not one
From this reading “I won’t show the white feather before her, no matter what happens,” he told himself, fiercely.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading “If I’ve failed--” He pulled himself together with an effort.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading He remembered that his mother was watching him eagerly--anxiously.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading He caught his breath sharply.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading “I won’t show the white feather before her, no matter what happens,” he told himself, fiercely.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
in or at that place or location
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading “If I’ve failed--” He pulled himself together with an effort.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading “I won’t show the white feather before her, no matter what happens,” he told himself, fiercely.
Tom'snounUS /tɑːmz/
possessive form of “tom” — male cat
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading He remembered that his mother was watching him eagerly--anxiously.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “I won’t show the white feather before her, no matter what happens,” he told himself, fiercely.
a Caucasian
From this reading “I won’t show the white feather before her, no matter what happens,” he told himself, fiercely.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “If I’ve failed--” He pulled himself together with an effort.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I won’t show the white feather before her, no matter what happens,” he told himself, fiercely.
the words that are spoken
From this reading SUCCESS There was a blur before Tom’s eyes; a blur that made the letters and words on the paper in front of him seem misty and far away.
