used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
aimlesslyadverbUS /ˈeɪmləsli/
without aim; in an aimless manner
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading This life she was living--was it really to be her life always?
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sloping ground, soft and furry like a carpet, invited relaxation.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
beeches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She began to muse, and the volume slid on to the moss.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading The sloping ground, soft and furry like a carpet, invited relaxation.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
concentrateverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəntreɪt/
make denser, stronger, or purer
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
desiringverbUS /dɪˈzaɪərɪŋ/
-ing form of “desire” — feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
furryadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːri/
covered with a dense coat of fine silky hairs
From this reading The sloping ground, soft and furry like a carpet, invited relaxation.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The sloping ground, soft and furry like a carpet, invited relaxation.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
idealadjectiveUS /aɪˈdiːl/
conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
insistentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsɪstənt/
repetitive and persistent
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading The sloping ground, soft and furry like a carpet, invited relaxation.
isolationnounUS /ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃən/
a state of separation between persons or groups
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This life she was living--was it really to be her life always?
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading This life she was living--was it really to be her life always?
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The sloping ground, soft and furry like a carpet, invited relaxation.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading This life she was living--was it really to be her life always?
prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
mossnounUS /mɔːs/
tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants
From this reading She began to muse, and the volume slid on to the moss.
moss-covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
musenounUS /mjuːz/
in ancient Greek mythology any of 9 daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne; protector of an art or science
From this reading She began to muse, and the volume slid on to the moss.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
obstinateadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbstənət/
tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
plural of “page” — one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
promisingadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːməsɪŋ/
showing possibility of achievement or excellence
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
established beyond doubt
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading This life she was living--was it really to be her life always?
refugenounUS /ˈrefjuːdʒ/
a safe place
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
relaxationnounUS /ˌriːlækˈseɪʃən/
(physiology) the gradual lengthening of inactive muscle or muscle fibers
From this reading The sloping ground, soft and furry like a carpet, invited relaxation.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
slidverbUS /slɪd/
inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading She began to muse, and the volume slid on to the moss.
slopingadjectiveUS /ˈsloʊpɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading The sloping ground, soft and furry like a carpet, invited relaxation.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The sloping ground, soft and furry like a carpet, invited relaxation.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This life she was living--was it really to be her life always?
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The small, moss-covered clearing under the beeches proved to be an ideal retreat--a place good for the soul longing for isolation--a refuge for those desiring to escape from the insistent call of the obstinate present.
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading She began to muse, and the volume slid on to the moss.
wanderverbUS /ˈwɑːndər/
move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This life she was living--was it really to be her life always?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The book seemed clever and promising--but somehow she could not concentrate her attention on its pages; her mind would wander off aimlessly.
