used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading What possessed the moth to continue battering its wings at the window of the room below?
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
batteringnounUS /ˈbætərɪŋ/
the act of subjecting to strong attack
From this reading What possessed the moth to continue battering its wings at the window of the room below?
for the reason that
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
clatteringverbUS /ˈklætərɪŋ/
-ing form of “clatter” — make a rattling sound
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading What possessed the moth to continue battering its wings at the window of the room below?
absence of light or illumination
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
dartedverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪd/
past form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
Death'snounUS /deθs/
possessive form of “death” — the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Had the other moths which he released done so, too?
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
flownverbUS /floʊn/
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading He supposed they had flown north; he had not looked out to see.
flutteredverbUS /ˈflʌtərd/
past form of “flutter” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
garnishedverbUS /ˈɡɑːrnɪʃt/
past form of “garnish” — take a debtor's wages on legal orders, such as for child support
From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had the other moths which he released done so, too?
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had the other moths which he released done so, too?
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading What possessed the moth to continue battering its wings at the window of the room below?
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He supposed they had flown north; he had not looked out to see.
a woman of refinement
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
mothnounUS /mɔːθ/
typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
mothsnounUS /mɔːθs/
plural of “moth” — typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae
From this reading Had the other moths which he released done so, too?
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
not any; not one
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading He supposed they had flown north; he had not looked out to see.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He supposed they had flown north; he had not looked out to see.
obstinatelyadverb
in a stubborn unregenerate manner
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading What possessed the moth to continue battering its wings at the window of the room below?
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Had the other moths which he released done so, too?
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
persistentlyadverbUS /pərˈsɪstəntli/
in a persistent manner
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading What possessed the moth to continue battering its wings at the window of the room below?
releasedverbUS /riˈliːst/
past form of “release” — release, as from one's grip
From this reading Had the other moths which he released done so, too?
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
robenounUS /roʊb/
any loose flowing garment
From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading What possessed the moth to continue battering its wings at the window of the room below?
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He supposed they had flown north; he had not looked out to see.
sillnounUS /sɪl/
structural member consisting of a continuous horizontal timber forming the lowest member of a framework or supporting structure
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Had the other moths which he released done so, too?
required or under orders
From this reading He supposed they had flown north; he had not looked out to see.
switchverbUS /swɪtʃ/
change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
in or at that place or location
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
tissuenounUS /ˈtɪsjuː/
part of an organism consisting of an aggregate of cells having a similar structure and function
From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Had the other moths which he released done so, too?
hard to endure
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What possessed the moth to continue battering its wings at the window of the room below?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading What possessed the moth to continue battering its wings at the window of the room below?
in the company of; together with
From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
