used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Damp fog was rising from the muddy streets of the town and made dark the transparency of a starry evening.
in the past
From this reading It happened three years ago.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Damp fog was rising from the muddy streets of the town and made dark the transparency of a starry evening.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading Notwithstanding the mists and exhalations which filled it, the town had a gay and festive appearance.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading From behind gray curtains thousands of windows shone with bright illuminations, and from lighted houses came the sounds of noisy conversation or collective prayers.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading From behind gray curtains thousands of windows shone with bright illuminations, and from lighted houses came the sounds of noisy conversation or collective prayers.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading From behind gray curtains thousands of windows shone with bright illuminations, and from lighted houses came the sounds of noisy conversation or collective prayers.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
collectiveadjectiveUS /kəˈlektɪv/
done by or characteristic of individuals acting together
From this reading From behind gray curtains thousands of windows shone with bright illuminations, and from lighted houses came the sounds of noisy conversation or collective prayers.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading From behind gray curtains thousands of windows shone with bright illuminations, and from lighted houses came the sounds of noisy conversation or collective prayers.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading From behind gray curtains thousands of windows shone with bright illuminations, and from lighted houses came the sounds of noisy conversation or collective prayers.
DampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading Damp fog was rising from the muddy streets of the town and made dark the transparency of a starry evening.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Damp fog was rising from the muddy streets of the town and made dark the transparency of a starry evening.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Damp fog was rising from the muddy streets of the town and made dark the transparency of a starry evening.
exhalations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
festiveadjectiveUS /ˈfestɪv/
offering fun and gaiety
From this reading Notwithstanding the mists and exhalations which filled it, the town had a gay and festive appearance.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Notwithstanding the mists and exhalations which filled it, the town had a gay and festive appearance.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
fognounUS /fɑːɡ/
droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
From this reading Damp fog was rising from the muddy streets of the town and made dark the transparency of a starry evening.
freshlyadverbUS /ˈfreʃli/
very recently
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Damp fog was rising from the muddy streets of the town and made dark the transparency of a starry evening.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading Notwithstanding the mists and exhalations which filled it, the town had a gay and festive appearance.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading From behind gray curtains thousands of windows shone with bright illuminations, and from lighted houses came the sounds of noisy conversation or collective prayers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Notwithstanding the mists and exhalations which filled it, the town had a gay and festive appearance.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading It happened three years ago.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
illuminations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From behind gray curtains thousands of windows shone with bright illuminations, and from lighted houses came the sounds of noisy conversation or collective prayers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It happened three years ago.
set afire or burning
From this reading From behind gray curtains thousands of windows shone with bright illuminations, and from lighted houses came the sounds of noisy conversation or collective prayers.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Damp fog was rising from the muddy streets of the town and made dark the transparency of a starry evening.
march in a procession
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
mistsnounUS /mɪsts/
plural of “mist” — a thin fog with condensation near the ground
From this reading Notwithstanding the mists and exhalations which filled it, the town had a gay and festive appearance.
muddyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading Damp fog was rising from the muddy streets of the town and made dark the transparency of a starry evening.
noisyadjectiveUS /ˈnɔɪzi/
full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds
From this reading From behind gray curtains thousands of windows shone with bright illuminations, and from lighted houses came the sounds of noisy conversation or collective prayers.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)
From this reading Notwithstanding the mists and exhalations which filled it, the town had a gay and festive appearance.
odournounUS /ˈoʊdər/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Damp fog was rising from the muddy streets of the town and made dark the transparency of a starry evening.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading From behind gray curtains thousands of windows shone with bright illuminations, and from lighted houses came the sounds of noisy conversation or collective prayers.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
ploughedadjectiveUS /plaʊd/
(of farmland) broken and turned over with a plow
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
plural of “prayer” — the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading From behind gray curtains thousands of windows shone with bright illuminations, and from lighted houses came the sounds of noisy conversation or collective prayers.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Damp fog was rising from the muddy streets of the town and made dark the transparency of a starry evening.
roofsnounUS /ruːfs/
plural of “roof” — a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading From behind gray curtains thousands of windows shone with bright illuminations, and from lighted houses came the sounds of noisy conversation or collective prayers.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading From behind gray curtains thousands of windows shone with bright illuminations, and from lighted houses came the sounds of noisy conversation or collective prayers.
starryadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːriː/
abounding with or resembling stars
From this reading Damp fog was rising from the muddy streets of the town and made dark the transparency of a starry evening.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Damp fog was rising from the muddy streets of the town and made dark the transparency of a starry evening.
suffocatingadjectiveUS /ˈsʌfəkeɪtɪŋ/
causing difficulty in breathing especially through lack of fresh air and presence of heat
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Damp fog was rising from the muddy streets of the town and made dark the transparency of a starry evening.
plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading From behind gray curtains thousands of windows shone with bright illuminations, and from lighted houses came the sounds of noisy conversation or collective prayers.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading It happened three years ago.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Damp fog was rising from the muddy streets of the town and made dark the transparency of a starry evening.
transparencynounUS /trænˈsperənsi/
permitting the free passage of electromagnetic radiation
From this reading Damp fog was rising from the muddy streets of the town and made dark the transparency of a starry evening.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Damp fog was rising from the muddy streets of the town and made dark the transparency of a starry evening.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Notwithstanding the mists and exhalations which filled it, the town had a gay and festive appearance.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A breath of March wind mingled with the odour of freshly ploughed fields, flew over low roofs, but could not drive out the suffocating exhalations coming in clouds from the doors and windows of the houses.
a late time of life
From this reading It happened three years ago.
