used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Before him was the stern, massive front of the castle, wrapped in profound gloom, but standing out in clear, ponderous outline against the starlit sky.
(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 Nor was there any sound at all, not even the barking of a dog.
anchornounUS /ˈæŋkər/
a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading There seemed to be no light from any part of it, and the great iron gates leading into the courtyard were closed.
ascentnounUS /əˈsent/
an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
barkingverbUS /ˈbɑːrkɪŋ/
-ing form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone
From this reading Nor was there any sound at all, not even the barking of a dog.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There seemed to be no light from any part of it, and the great iron gates leading into the courtyard were closed.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Before him was the stern, massive front of the castle, wrapped in profound gloom, but standing out in clear, ponderous outline against the starlit sky.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading There seemed to be no light from any part of it, and the great iron gates leading into the courtyard were closed.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrt.jɑːrd/
An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by the walls of a house.
From this reading There seemed to be no light from any part of it, and the great iron gates leading into the courtyard were closed.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading Nor was there any sound at all, not even the barking of a dog.
divisible by two
From this reading Nor was there any sound at all, not even the barking of a dog.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Before him was the stern, massive front of the castle, wrapped in profound gloom, but standing out in clear, ponderous outline against the starlit sky.
United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading Before him was the stern, massive front of the castle, wrapped in profound gloom, but standing out in clear, ponderous outline against the starlit sky.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
hamletnounUS /ˈhæmlət/
a community of people smaller than a village
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
hewnadjectiveUS /hjuːn/
cut or shaped with hard blows of a heavy cutting instrument like an ax or chisel
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Before him was the stern, massive front of the castle, wrapped in profound gloom, but standing out in clear, ponderous outline against the starlit sky.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There seemed to be no light from any part of it, and the great iron gates leading into the courtyard were closed.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading There seemed to be no light from any part of it, and the great iron gates leading into the courtyard were closed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
immediately past
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading There seemed to be no light from any part of it, and the great iron gates leading into the courtyard were closed.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading There seemed to be no light from any part of it, and the great iron gates leading into the courtyard were closed.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading Before him was the stern, massive front of the castle, wrapped in profound gloom, but standing out in clear, ponderous outline against the starlit sky.
not any; not one
From this reading There seemed to be no light from any part of it, and the great iron gates leading into the courtyard were closed.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Nor was there any sound at all, not even the barking of a dog.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Nor was there any sound at all, not even the barking of a dog.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
outlinenounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪn/
the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading Before him was the stern, massive front of the castle, wrapped in profound gloom, but standing out in clear, ponderous outline against the starlit sky.
coated with paint
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading There seemed to be no light from any part of it, and the great iron gates leading into the courtyard were closed.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
ponderousadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːndərəs/
slow and laborious because of weight
From this reading Before him was the stern, massive front of the castle, wrapped in profound gloom, but standing out in clear, ponderous outline against the starlit sky.
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
From this reading Before him was the stern, massive front of the castle, wrapped in profound gloom, but standing out in clear, ponderous outline against the starlit sky.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There seemed to be no light from any part of it, and the great iron gates leading into the courtyard were closed.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Before him was the stern, massive front of the castle, wrapped in profound gloom, but standing out in clear, ponderous outline against the starlit sky.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Nor was there any sound at all, not even the barking of a dog.
having a supporting base
From this reading Before him was the stern, massive front of the castle, wrapped in profound gloom, but standing out in clear, ponderous outline against the starlit sky.
starlitadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrlɪt/
lighted only by stars
From this reading Before him was the stern, massive front of the castle, wrapped in profound gloom, but standing out in clear, ponderous outline against the starlit sky.
steepadjectiveUS /stiːp/
having a sharp inclination
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading Before him was the stern, massive front of the castle, wrapped in profound gloom, but standing out in clear, ponderous outline against the starlit sky.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
carry out
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There seemed to be no light from any part of it, and the great iron gates leading into the courtyard were closed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
toynounUS /tɔɪ/
an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" It was a long, steep ascent, hewn out of the solid rock; but at last Paul stood before the great gates of the castle, and paused to take breath.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There seemed to be no light from any part of it, and the great iron gates leading into the courtyard were closed.
in or at the place that
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading Before him was the stern, massive front of the castle, wrapped in profound gloom, but standing out in clear, ponderous outline against the starlit sky.
yachtnounUS /jɑːt/
an expensive vessel propelled by sail or power and used for cruising or racing
From this reading Hundreds of feet below him his yacht was riding at anchor, looking like a toy vessel upon a painted sea, and a little group of scattered lights showed him where the hamlet lay.
