used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The outriders, lured onward by an imagined maltiness in the air, had permitted an ever-increasing distance between themselves and their lady's coach.
(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 The two maids, exerting all their powers to fall asleep, gave little heed to their mistress' railings.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The outriders, lured onward by an imagined maltiness in the air, had permitted an ever-increasing distance between themselves and their lady's coach.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The petulant voice ran on and on, its only vehemence induced by the muddy ruts in the road.
in a state of sleep
From this reading The two maids, exerting all their powers to fall asleep, gave little heed to their mistress' railings.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading Mistress Benton, using every force to keep awake, interjected monosyllabic exclamations and questions.
BentonnounUS /ˈbentən/
United States artist whose paintings portrayed life in the Midwest and South (1889-1975)
From this reading Mistress Benton, using every force to keep awake, interjected monosyllabic exclamations and questions.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The outriders, lured onward by an imagined maltiness in the air, had permitted an ever-increasing distance between themselves and their lady's coach.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The petulant voice ran on and on, its only vehemence induced by the muddy ruts in the road.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
teach and supervise (someone); act as a trainer or coach (to), as in sports
From this reading The outriders, lured onward by an imagined maltiness in the air, had permitted an ever-increasing distance between themselves and their lady's coach.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The outriders, lured onward by an imagined maltiness in the air, had permitted an ever-increasing distance between themselves and their lady's coach.
ever-increasing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outriders, lured onward by an imagined maltiness in the air, had permitted an ever-increasing distance between themselves and their lady's coach.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Mistress Benton, using every force to keep awake, interjected monosyllabic exclamations and questions.
exclamationsnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃənz/
plural of “exclamation” — an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading Mistress Benton, using every force to keep awake, interjected monosyllabic exclamations and questions.
exertingverbUS /ɪɡˈzɜːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “exert” — put to use
From this reading The two maids, exerting all their powers to fall asleep, gave little heed to their mistress' railings.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading The two maids, exerting all their powers to fall asleep, gave little heed to their mistress' railings.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Mistress Benton, using every force to keep awake, interjected monosyllabic exclamations and questions.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The two maids, exerting all their powers to fall asleep, gave little heed to their mistress' railings.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The outriders, lured onward by an imagined maltiness in the air, had permitted an ever-increasing distance between themselves and their lady's coach.
heednounUS /hiːd/
paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people)
From this reading The two maids, exerting all their powers to fall asleep, gave little heed to their mistress' railings.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading The outriders, lured onward by an imagined maltiness in the air, had permitted an ever-increasing distance between themselves and their lady's coach.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The petulant voice ran on and on, its only vehemence induced by the muddy ruts in the road.
inducedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈduːst/
brought about or caused; not spontaneous
From this reading The petulant voice ran on and on, its only vehemence induced by the muddy ruts in the road.
interjectedverbUS /ˌɪntərˈdʒektɪd/
past form of “interject” — to insert between other elements
From this reading Mistress Benton, using every force to keep awake, interjected monosyllabic exclamations and questions.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The petulant voice ran on and on, its only vehemence induced by the muddy ruts in the road.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Mistress Benton, using every force to keep awake, interjected monosyllabic exclamations and questions.
lady'snounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
possessive form of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading The outriders, lured onward by an imagined maltiness in the air, had permitted an ever-increasing distance between themselves and their lady's coach.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The two maids, exerting all their powers to fall asleep, gave little heed to their mistress' railings.
lumberingnounUS /ˈlʌmbərɪŋ/
the trade of cutting or preparing or selling timber
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
luredverbUS /lʊrd/
past form of “lure” — provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion
From this reading The outriders, lured onward by an imagined maltiness in the air, had permitted an ever-increasing distance between themselves and their lady's coach.
maidsnounUS /meɪdz/
plural of “maid” — a female domestic
From this reading The two maids, exerting all their powers to fall asleep, gave little heed to their mistress' railings.
maltiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outriders, lured onward by an imagined maltiness in the air, had permitted an ever-increasing distance between themselves and their lady's coach.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading Mistress Benton, using every force to keep awake, interjected monosyllabic exclamations and questions.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
monosyllabicadjective
having or characterized by or consisting of one syllable
From this reading Mistress Benton, using every force to keep awake, interjected monosyllabic exclamations and questions.
moon-shadowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
muddyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading The petulant voice ran on and on, its only vehemence induced by the muddy ruts in the road.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The petulant voice ran on and on, its only vehemence induced by the muddy ruts in the road.
and nothing more
From this reading The petulant voice ran on and on, its only vehemence induced by the muddy ruts in the road.
onwardadverbUS /ˈɔːnwərd/
forward in time or order or degree
From this reading The outriders, lured onward by an imagined maltiness in the air, had permitted an ever-increasing distance between themselves and their lady's coach.
outridersnounUS /ˈaʊtraɪdərz/
plural of “outrider” — an escort who rides ahead (as a member of the vanguard)
From this reading The outriders, lured onward by an imagined maltiness in the air, had permitted an ever-increasing distance between themselves and their lady's coach.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission
From this reading The outriders, lured onward by an imagined maltiness in the air, had permitted an ever-increasing distance between themselves and their lady's coach.
petulantadjectiveUS /ˈpetʃələnt/
easily irritated or annoyed
From this reading The petulant voice ran on and on, its only vehemence induced by the muddy ruts in the road.
plural of “power” — possession of controlling influence
From this reading The two maids, exerting all their powers to fall asleep, gave little heed to their mistress' railings.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading Mistress Benton, using every force to keep awake, interjected monosyllabic exclamations and questions.
railingsnounUS /ˈreɪlɪŋz/
plural of “railing” — a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading The two maids, exerting all their powers to fall asleep, gave little heed to their mistress' railings.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The petulant voice ran on and on, its only vehemence induced by the muddy ruts in the road.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The petulant voice ran on and on, its only vehemence induced by the muddy ruts in the road.
rutsnounUS /rʌts/
plural of “rut” — a groove or furrow (especially one in soft earth caused by wheels)
From this reading The petulant voice ran on and on, its only vehemence induced by the muddy ruts in the road.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
stumbledverbUS /ˈstʌmbəld/
past form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The petulant voice ran on and on, its only vehemence induced by the muddy ruts in the road.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The two maids, exerting all their powers to fall asleep, gave little heed to their mistress' railings.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The outriders, lured onward by an imagined maltiness in the air, had permitted an ever-increasing distance between themselves and their lady's coach.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mistress Benton, using every force to keep awake, interjected monosyllabic exclamations and questions.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two maids, exerting all their powers to fall asleep, gave little heed to their mistress' railings.
usingnounUS /ˈjuːzɪŋ/
an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)
From this reading Mistress Benton, using every force to keep awake, interjected monosyllabic exclamations and questions.
vehemencenounUS /ˈviːəməns/
intensity or forcefulness of expression
From this reading The petulant voice ran on and on, its only vehemence induced by the muddy ruts in the road.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The petulant voice ran on and on, its only vehemence induced by the muddy ruts in the road.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
waveredverbUS /ˈweɪvərd/
past form of “waver” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading It was certainly some several moments after they had passed a moon-shadowed corner that the lumbering coach horses stumbled, wavered and stopped short.
