used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
in the past
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
cagenounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading The clank of the iron chain in the gear told that the cage in the shaft was working.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading The clank of the iron chain in the gear told that the cage in the shaft was working.
clankverbUS /klæŋk/
make a clank
From this reading The clank of the iron chain in the gear told that the cage in the shaft was working.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
disasternounUS /dɪˈzæstər/
a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
ebbedverbUS /ˈebəd/
past form of “ebb” — flow back or recede
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading Then, in a moment, the light had pierced through the empty sky, and a way had been wrought for her out of the labyrinth of misery.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
fibrousadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪbrəs/
having or resembling fibers especially fibers used in making cordage such as those of jute
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
gearnounUS /ɡɪr/
a toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion
From this reading The clank of the iron chain in the gear told that the cage in the shaft was working.
Greta
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Greta hastened toward the pit-brow.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
past form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading Greta hastened toward the pit-brow.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
Hindscarth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
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 The clank of the iron chain in the gear told that the cage in the shaft was working.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
labyrinthnounUS /ˈlæbərɪnθ/
complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost
From this reading Then, in a moment, the light had pierced through the empty sky, and a way had been wrought for her out of the labyrinth of misery.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
held up in the air
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Then, in a moment, the light had pierced through the empty sky, and a way had been wrought for her out of the labyrinth of misery.
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 The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune
From this reading Then, in a moment, the light had pierced through the empty sky, and a way had been wrought for her out of the labyrinth of misery.
a particular point in time
From this reading Then, in a moment, the light had pierced through the empty sky, and a way had been wrought for her out of the labyrinth of misery.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Then, in a moment, the light had pierced through the empty sky, and a way had been wrought for her out of the labyrinth of misery.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
overshadowedverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈʃædoʊd/
past form of “overshadow” — be greater in significance than
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
pealed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
piercedadjectiveUS /pɪrst/
having a hole cut through
From this reading Then, in a moment, the light had pierced through the empty sky, and a way had been wrought for her out of the labyrinth of misery.
pit-brow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Greta hastened toward the pit-brow.
shaftnounUS /ʃæft/
a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
From this reading The clank of the iron chain in the gear told that the cage in the shaft was working.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
not in physical motion
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
streaknounUS /striːk/
an unbroken series of events
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The clank of the iron chain in the gear told that the cage in the shaft was working.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Then, in a moment, the light had pierced through the empty sky, and a way had been wrought for her out of the labyrinth of misery.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading The clank of the iron chain in the gear told that the cage in the shaft was working.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Greta hastened toward the pit-brow.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The evening was closing in; now and then the shrill cries of the birds pealed and echoed in the still air; a long, fibrous streak of silver in the sky ebbed away over the head of Hindscarth.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Then, in a moment, the light had pierced through the empty sky, and a way had been wrought for her out of the labyrinth of misery.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading The clank of the iron chain in the gear told that the cage in the shaft was working.
shaped to fit by or as if by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort)
From this reading Then, in a moment, the light had pierced through the empty sky, and a way had been wrought for her out of the labyrinth of misery.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading It was a year and a half since her life had first been overshadowed by a disaster more black and terrible than death itself, and never for an instant had the clouds been lifted until three days ago.
