used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
after-glow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was half-past four, but, though the sun had sunk, the clouds had lifted, and the misty orange light of the after-glow filled the air.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading It was half-past four, but, though the sun had sunk, the clouds had lifted, and the misty orange light of the after-glow filled the air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was half-past four, but, though the sun had sunk, the clouds had lifted, and the misty orange light of the after-glow filled the air.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The rain was not by any means over when we came out into the field.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “The tenacious depths of the quicksand, as is usual in such cases, retained their prey.”
batsadjectiveUS /bæts/
informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was half-past four, but, though the sun had sunk, the clouds had lifted, and the misty orange light of the after-glow filled the air.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The rain was not by any means over when we came out into the field.
CAKESnounUS /keɪks/
plural of “cake” — a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
From this reading POTATO CAKES.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The rain was not by any means over when we came out into the field.
plural of “case” — an occurrence of something
From this reading “The tenacious depths of the quicksand, as is usual in such cases, retained their prey.”
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading It was half-past four, but, though the sun had sunk, the clouds had lifted, and the misty orange light of the after-glow filled the air.
demesnenounUS /dəˈmeɪn/
extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading “The tenacious depths of the quicksand, as is usual in such cases, retained their prey.”
eastwardadjectiveUS /ˈiːstwərd/
moving toward the east
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading The rain was not by any means over when we came out into the field.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading It was half-past four, but, though the sun had sunk, the clouds had lifted, and the misty orange light of the after-glow filled the air.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It was half-past four, but, though the sun had sunk, the clouds had lifted, and the misty orange light of the after-glow filled the air.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was half-past four, but, though the sun had sunk, the clouds had lifted, and the misty orange light of the after-glow filled the air.
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was half-past four, but, though the sun had sunk, the clouds had lifted, and the misty orange light of the after-glow filled the air.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “The tenacious depths of the quicksand, as is usual in such cases, retained their prey.”
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The rain was not by any means over when we came out into the field.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The tenacious depths of the quicksand, as is usual in such cases, retained their prey.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was half-past four, but, though the sun had sunk, the clouds had lifted, and the misty orange light of the after-glow filled the air.
held up in the air
From this reading It was half-past four, but, though the sun had sunk, the clouds had lifted, and the misty orange light of the after-glow filled the air.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading It was half-past four, but, though the sun had sunk, the clouds had lifted, and the misty orange light of the after-glow filled the air.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading The rain was not by any means over when we came out into the field.
mistyadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsti/
filled or abounding with fog or mist
From this reading It was half-past four, but, though the sun had sunk, the clouds had lifted, and the misty orange light of the after-glow filled the air.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
muddyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The rain was not by any means over when we came out into the field.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “The tenacious depths of the quicksand, as is usual in such cases, retained their prey.”
orangenounUS /ˈɔːrəndʒ/
round yellow to orange fruit of any of several citrus trees
From this reading It was half-past four, but, though the sun had sunk, the clouds had lifted, and the misty orange light of the after-glow filled the air.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The rain was not by any means over when we came out into the field.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The rain was not by any means over when we came out into the field.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
POTATOnounUS /pəˈteɪtoʊ/
an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading POTATO CAKES.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading “The tenacious depths of the quicksand, as is usual in such cases, retained their prey.”
quicksandnounUS /ˈkwɪksænd/
a treacherous situation that tends to entrap and destroy
From this reading “The tenacious depths of the quicksand, as is usual in such cases, retained their prey.”
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The rain was not by any means over when we came out into the field.
retainedadjectiveUS /rɪˈteɪnd/
continued in your keeping or use or memory
From this reading “The tenacious depths of the quicksand, as is usual in such cases, retained their prey.”
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
scrapnounUS /skræp/
a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
slimadjectiveUS /slɪm/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading “The tenacious depths of the quicksand, as is usual in such cases, retained their prey.”
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading It was half-past four, but, though the sun had sunk, the clouds had lifted, and the misty orange light of the after-glow filled the air.
sunkadjectiveUS /sʌŋk/
doomed to extinction
From this reading It was half-past four, but, though the sun had sunk, the clouds had lifted, and the misty orange light of the after-glow filled the air.
swoopingverbUS /ˈswuːpɪŋ/
-ing form of “swoop” — move down on as if in an attack
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
tenaciousadjectiveUS /təˈneɪʃəs/
good at remembering
From this reading “The tenacious depths of the quicksand, as is usual in such cases, retained their prey.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “The tenacious depths of the quicksand, as is usual in such cases, retained their prey.”
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “The tenacious depths of the quicksand, as is usual in such cases, retained their prey.”
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was half-past four, but, though the sun had sunk, the clouds had lifted, and the misty orange light of the after-glow filled the air.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading “The tenacious depths of the quicksand, as is usual in such cases, retained their prey.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The rain was not by any means over when we came out into the field.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The rain was not by any means over when we came out into the field.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
at the time that
From this reading The rain was not by any means over when we came out into the field.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading A slim scrap of a moon had slipped up over the hill to the eastward, and the bats were swooping round our heads as we picked our way across the muddy yard of the demesne farm.
