used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STORY WITHOUT WHICH THIS HISTORY WOULD BE FOUND WANTING.
abstractedadjectiveUS /ˈæbstræktɪd/
lost in thought; showing preoccupation
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
(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 And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
BatterynounUS /ˈbætəri/
group of guns or missile launchers operated together at one place
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A STORY WITHOUT WHICH THIS HISTORY WOULD BE FOUND WANTING.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
boatman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
fearless and daring
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
bordernounUS /ˈbɔːrdər/
a line that indicates a boundary
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
lacking funds
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
make calm or still
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
chorusnounUS /ˈkɔːrəs/
any utterance produced simultaneously by a group
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
condolencenounUS /kənˈdoʊləns/
an expression of sympathy with another's grief
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
intentionally conceived
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
without stop or interruption
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
coquetted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
dancedverbUS /dænst/
past form of “dance” — move in a graceful and rhythmical way
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
dulcetadjectiveUS /ˈdʌlsət/
extremely pleasant in a gentle way
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
duskyadjective
lighted by or as if by twilight
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
set up or found
From this reading A STORY WITHOUT WHICH THIS HISTORY WOULD BE FOUND WANTING.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
halonounUS /ˈheɪloʊ/
an indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a saint
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading A STORY WITHOUT WHICH THIS HISTORY WOULD BE FOUND WANTING.
humverbUS /hʌm/
sing with closed lips
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
hushedadjectiveUS /hʌʃt/
in a softened tone
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
go away from a place
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
MarianounUS /mərˈiːə/
a dark region of considerable extent on the surface of the moon
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
mellowadjectiveUS /ˈmeloʊ/
unhurried and relaxed
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
moonbeamsnounUS /ˈmuːnbiːmz/
plural of “moonbeam” — a ray of moonlight
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
musedverbUS /mjuːzd/
past form of “muse” — reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
mysticadjectiveUS /ˈmɪstɪk/
having an import not apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence; beyond ordinary understanding
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
negro's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
observingadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvɪŋ/
quick to notice; showing quick and keen perception
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
overburdenedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərˈbɜːrdənd/
heavily burdened with work or cares
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
polishedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃt/
perfected or made shiny and smooth
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
re-echoed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
in an unfortunate way
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
salliesnounUS /ˈsæliz/
plural of “sally” — witty remark
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
only a very short time before
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
sereneness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
sheddingnounUS /ˈʃedɪŋ/
the process whereby something is shed
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
sluggishlyadverbUS /ˈslʌɡɪʃli/
in a sluggish manner
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
stillyadjective
(poetic) still or calm
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading A STORY WITHOUT WHICH THIS HISTORY WOULD BE FOUND WANTING.
strainsnounUS /streɪnz/
plural of “strain” — (physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A STORY WITHOUT WHICH THIS HISTORY WOULD BE FOUND WANTING.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
arousing affect
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
in the direction of
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
twinkledverbUS /ˈtwɪŋkəld/
past form of “twinkle” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
nonexistent
From this reading A STORY WITHOUT WHICH THIS HISTORY WOULD BE FOUND WANTING.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
at the time that
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A STORY WITHOUT WHICH THIS HISTORY WOULD BE FOUND WANTING.
which person or people
From this reading Here, scarce conscious of those who were observing her in their sallies, she mused until dusky evening, when the air seemed hushed, and the busy hum of day was dying away in the distance.
in the company of; together with
From this reading On taking leave of her father, Maria, her heart overburdened with grief, and her mind abstracted, turned towards the Battery, and continued, slowly and sadly, until she found herself seated beneath a tree, looking out upon the calm bay.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading A STORY WITHOUT WHICH THIS HISTORY WOULD BE FOUND WANTING.
woodlandnounUS /ˈwʊdlænd/
land that is covered with trees and shrubs
From this reading The dark woodland on the opposite bank gave a bold border to the soft picture; the ships rode sluggishly upon the polished waters; the negro's touching song echoed and re-echoed along the shore; and the boatman's chorus broke upon the stilly air in strains so dulcet.
the words that are spoken
From this reading And as the mellow shadows of night stole over the scene--as the heavens looked down in all their sereneness, and the stars shone out, and twinkled, and laughed, and danced upon the blue waters, and coquetted with the moonbeams--for the moon was up, and shedding a halo of mystic light over the scene--making night merry, nature seemed speaking to Maria in words of condolence.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A STORY WITHOUT WHICH THIS HISTORY WOULD BE FOUND WANTING.
