used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
at or in the front
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
betrayverbUS /bɪˈtreɪ/
reveal unintentionally
From this reading No light, no sound, could either guide or betray him.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
blendedadjectiveUS /ˈblendɪd/
combined or mixed together so that the constituent parts are indistinguishable
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
blotchnounUS /blɑːttʃ/
an irregularly shaped spot
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
blottedverbUS /ˈblɑːtəd/
inflected form of “blot” — dry (ink) with blotting paper
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
bluishadjectiveUS /ˈbluːɪʃ/
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading No light, no sound, could either guide or betray him.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
denseradjectiveUS /ˈdensər/
comparative of “dense” — permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
detectverbUS /dɪˈtekt/
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
dissolvingnounUS /dɪˈzɔːlvɪŋ/
the process of going into solution
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
one or the other of two
From this reading No light, no sound, could either guide or betray him.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
frostnounUS /frɔːst/
ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
glimmernounUS /ˈɡlɪmər/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
someone employed to conduct others
From this reading No light, no sound, could either guide or betray him.
HABAKKUK'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading No light, no sound, could either guide or betray him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
hyperboreannounUS /ˌhaɪpərˈbɔːriən/
(Greek mythology) one of a people that the ancient Greeks believed lived in a warm and sunny land north of the source of the north wind
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
an instinctive motive
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
in motion
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
not any; not one
From this reading No light, no sound, could either guide or betray him.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
obscuritynounUS /əbsˈkjʊrəti/
the quality of being unclear or abstruse and hard to understand
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
and nothing more
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading No light, no sound, could either guide or betray him.
overtakeverbUS /ˈoʊvərteɪk/
catch up with and possibly overtake
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
prowled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
one of four equal parts
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
on the contrary
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
any member of a ship's crew
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading No light, no sound, could either guide or betray him.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
strainingnounUS /ˈstreɪnɪŋ/
an intense or violent exertion
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
stridenounUS /straɪd/
a step in walking or running
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
suffusionnoun
the process of permeating or infusing something with a substance
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
undergrowthnounUS /ˈʌndərɡroʊθ/
the brush (small trees and bushes and ferns etc.) growing beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
