Chapter XXVII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading ROME A vision rises upon us from the land of shadows.

how long something has existed

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

(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 We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading And this is Rome,--weird, wonderful, ancient, mighty Rome,--mighty once by physical force and grandeur, mightier now in physical decadence and weakness by the spell of a potent moral enchantment.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

a native or inhabitant of Asia

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

plural of “billow” — a large sea wave

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

plural of “crest” — the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

the state of being degenerate in mental or moral qualities

From this reading And this is Rome,--weird, wonderful, ancient, mighty Rome,--mighty once by physical force and grandeur, mightier now in physical decadence and weakness by the spell of a potent moral enchantment.

past form of “deck” — be beautiful to look at

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

detect with the senses

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

a feeling of great liking for something wonderful and unusual

From this reading And this is Rome,--weird, wonderful, ancient, mighty Rome,--mighty once by physical force and grandeur, mightier now in physical decadence and weakness by the spell of a potent moral enchantment.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

a wide scope

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

the point or degree to which something extends

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

covered with water

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

a powerful effect or influence

From this reading And this is Rome,--weird, wonderful, ancient, mighty Rome,--mighty once by physical force and grandeur, mightier now in physical decadence and weakness by the spell of a potent moral enchantment.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading ROME A vision rises upon us from the land of shadows.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

a flash of light (especially reflected light)

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

the quality of being magnificent or splendid or grand

From this reading And this is Rome,--weird, wonderful, ancient, mighty Rome,--mighty once by physical force and grandeur, mightier now in physical decadence and weakness by the spell of a potent moral enchantment.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

a person who cares for persons or property

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading ROME A vision rises upon us from the land of shadows.

third-person singular of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

engage in

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

the location of something surrounded by other things

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

comparative of “mighty” — having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading And this is Rome,--weird, wonderful, ancient, mighty Rome,--mighty once by physical force and grandeur, mightier now in physical decadence and weakness by the spell of a potent moral enchantment.

having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading And this is Rome,--weird, wonderful, ancient, mighty Rome,--mighty once by physical force and grandeur, mightier now in physical decadence and weakness by the spell of a potent moral enchantment.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles

From this reading And this is Rome,--weird, wonderful, ancient, mighty Rome,--mighty once by physical force and grandeur, mightier now in physical decadence and weakness by the spell of a potent moral enchantment.

overgrown with moss

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

in motion

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

plural of “mystery” — something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading And this is Rome,--weird, wonderful, ancient, mighty Rome,--mighty once by physical force and grandeur, mightier now in physical decadence and weakness by the spell of a potent moral enchantment.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading ROME A vision rises upon us from the land of shadows.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

on one occasion

From this reading And this is Rome,--weird, wonderful, ancient, mighty Rome,--mighty once by physical force and grandeur, mightier now in physical decadence and weakness by the spell of a potent moral enchantment.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

-ing form of “pervade” — spread or diffuse through

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit

From this reading And this is Rome,--weird, wonderful, ancient, mighty Rome,--mighty once by physical force and grandeur, mightier now in physical decadence and weakness by the spell of a potent moral enchantment.

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

having great influence

From this reading And this is Rome,--weird, wonderful, ancient, mighty Rome,--mighty once by physical force and grandeur, mightier now in physical decadence and weakness by the spell of a potent moral enchantment.

a treeless grassy plain

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

strange in an interesting or pleasing way

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

plural of “rise” — a growth in strength or number or importance

From this reading ROME A vision rises upon us from the land of shadows.

uttered with a trill

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire

From this reading ROME A vision rises upon us from the land of shadows.

extremely harmful; bringing physical or financial ruin

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

the context and environment in which something is set

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading ROME A vision rises upon us from the land of shadows.

plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

marked by absence of sound

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

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 We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

a state of social isolation

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

lacking brightness or color; dull

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of

From this reading And this is Rome,--weird, wonderful, ancient, mighty Rome,--mighty once by physical force and grandeur, mightier now in physical decadence and weakness by the spell of a potent moral enchantment.

the season of growth

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

extensive plain without trees (associated with eastern Russia and Siberia)

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

the rays of the sun

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

express in words

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading ROME A vision rises upon us from the land of shadows.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

of or concerning this or that

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

of the highest quality

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

impart gradually

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading ROME A vision rises upon us from the land of shadows.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading ROME A vision rises upon us from the land of shadows.

a vivid mental image

From this reading ROME A vision rises upon us from the land of shadows.

the act of signaling by a movement of the hand

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

a flaw or weak point

From this reading And this is Rome,--weird, wonderful, ancient, mighty Rome,--mighty once by physical force and grandeur, mightier now in physical decadence and weakness by the spell of a potent moral enchantment.

suggesting the operation of supernatural influences

From this reading And this is Rome,--weird, wonderful, ancient, mighty Rome,--mighty once by physical force and grandeur, mightier now in physical decadence and weakness by the spell of a potent moral enchantment.

toward the west

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading As the sun is moving westward, the whole air around becomes flooded with a luminousness which seems to transfuse itself with pervading presence through every part of the city, and make all its ruinous and mossy age bright and living.

belonging to which person

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.

in the company of; together with

From this reading So silent, so lonely, so fair is this waving expanse with its guardian mountains, it might be some wild solitude, an American prairie or Asiatic steppe, but that in the midst thereof, on some billows of rolling land, we discern a city, sombre, quaint, and old,--a city of dreams and mysteries,--a city of the living and the dead.

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading And this is Rome,--weird, wonderful, ancient, mighty Rome,--mighty once by physical force and grandeur, mightier now in physical decadence and weakness by the spell of a potent moral enchantment.

but in spite of that

From this reading We see a wide plain, miles and miles in extent, rolling in soft billows of green, and girded on all sides by blue mountains, whose silver crests gleaming in the setting sunlight tell that the winter yet lingers on their tops, though spring has decked all the plain.