adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The moon, like a silver mirror, hung in a cloudless sky.
althoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Nothing whatever of an unusual nature had occurred, and although Harley and I had listened for any sound of nocturnal footsteps, our vigilance had passed unrewarded.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Over an hour had elapsed since I had heard Pedro making his nightly rounds.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nothing whatever of an unusual nature had occurred, and although Harley and I had listened for any sound of nocturnal footsteps, our vigilance had passed unrewarded.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Nothing whatever of an unusual nature had occurred, and although Harley and I had listened for any sound of nocturnal footsteps, our vigilance had passed unrewarded.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON I stood at Harley’s open window--looking down in the Tudor garden.
avoidverbUS /əˈvɔɪd/
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
brilliancenounUS /ˈbrɪljəns/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
ChinesenounUS /tʃaɪˈniːz/
any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
cloudlessadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdləs/
free from clouds
From this reading The moon, like a silver mirror, hung in a cloudless sky.
detournounUS /dɪˈtʊr/
a roundabout road (especially one that is used temporarily while a main route is blocked)
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON I stood at Harley’s open window--looking down in the Tudor garden.
elapsedadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæpst/
(of time) having passed or slipped by
From this reading Over an hour had elapsed since I had heard Pedro making his nightly rounds.
footstepsnounUS /ˈfʊtsteps/
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading Nothing whatever of an unusual nature had occurred, and although Harley and I had listened for any sound of nocturnal footsteps, our vigilance had passed unrewarded.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Nothing whatever of an unusual nature had occurred, and although Harley and I had listened for any sound of nocturnal footsteps, our vigilance had passed unrewarded.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
FULLadjectiveUS /fʊl/
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON I stood at Harley’s open window--looking down in the Tudor garden.
gardennounUS /ˈɡɑːrdən/
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON I stood at Harley’s open window--looking down in the Tudor garden.
groundsnounUS /ɡraʊndz/
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Over an hour had elapsed since I had heard Pedro making his nightly rounds.
Harley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing whatever of an unusual nature had occurred, and although Harley and I had listened for any sound of nocturnal footsteps, our vigilance had passed unrewarded.
Harley's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON I stood at Harley’s open window--looking down in the Tudor garden.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Over an hour had elapsed since I had heard Pedro making his nightly rounds.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Over an hour had elapsed since I had heard Pedro making his nightly rounds.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Over an hour had elapsed since I had heard Pedro making his nightly rounds.
hungverbUS /hʌŋ/
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading The moon, like a silver mirror, hung in a cloudless sky.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON I stood at Harley’s open window--looking down in the Tudor garden.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON I stood at Harley’s open window--looking down in the Tudor garden.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The moon, like a silver mirror, hung in a cloudless sky.
listenedverbUS /ˈlɪsənd/
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading Nothing whatever of an unusual nature had occurred, and although Harley and I had listened for any sound of nocturnal footsteps, our vigilance had passed unrewarded.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON I stood at Harley’s open window--looking down in the Tudor garden.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Over an hour had elapsed since I had heard Pedro making his nightly rounds.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading The moon, like a silver mirror, hung in a cloudless sky.
MOONnounUS /muːn/
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON I stood at Harley’s open window--looking down in the Tudor garden.
moonlightnounUS /ˈmuːnlaɪt/
the light of the Moon
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Nothing whatever of an unusual nature had occurred, and although Harley and I had listened for any sound of nocturnal footsteps, our vigilance had passed unrewarded.
necessaryadjectiveUS /ˈnesəseri/
absolutely essential
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
NIGHTnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON I stood at Harley’s open window--looking down in the Tudor garden.
nightlyadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪtli/
happening every night
From this reading Over an hour had elapsed since I had heard Pedro making his nightly rounds.
nocturnaladjectiveUS /nɑːkˈtɜːrnəl/
belonging to or active during the night
From this reading Nothing whatever of an unusual nature had occurred, and although Harley and I had listened for any sound of nocturnal footsteps, our vigilance had passed unrewarded.
NothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing whatever of an unusual nature had occurred, and although Harley and I had listened for any sound of nocturnal footsteps, our vigilance had passed unrewarded.
observationnounUS /ˌɑːbzərˈveɪʃən/
the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
occurredverbUS /əˈkɜːrd/
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading Nothing whatever of an unusual nature had occurred, and although Harley and I had listened for any sound of nocturnal footsteps, our vigilance had passed unrewarded.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON I stood at Harley’s open window--looking down in the Tudor garden.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON I stood at Harley’s open window--looking down in the Tudor garden.
ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Nothing whatever of an unusual nature had occurred, and although Harley and I had listened for any sound of nocturnal footsteps, our vigilance had passed unrewarded.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over an hour had elapsed since I had heard Pedro making his nightly rounds.
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Nothing whatever of an unusual nature had occurred, and although Harley and I had listened for any sound of nocturnal footsteps, our vigilance had passed unrewarded.
Pedro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over an hour had elapsed since I had heard Pedro making his nightly rounds.
possibleadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːsəbəl/
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
renderedverbUS /ˈrendərd/
past form of “render” — cause to become
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
roundsnounUS /raʊndz/
plural of “round” — a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Over an hour had elapsed since I had heard Pedro making his nightly rounds.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
silvernounUS /ˈsɪlvər/
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading The moon, like a silver mirror, hung in a cloudless sky.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Over an hour had elapsed since I had heard Pedro making his nightly rounds.
skynounUS /skaɪ/
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The moon, like a silver mirror, hung in a cloudless sky.
soundnounUS /saʊnd/
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Nothing whatever of an unusual nature had occurred, and although Harley and I had listened for any sound of nocturnal footsteps, our vigilance had passed unrewarded.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON I stood at Harley’s open window--looking down in the Tudor garden.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON I stood at Harley’s open window--looking down in the Tudor garden.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
tournounUS /tʊr/
a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
TudornounUS /ˈtuːdər/
an English dynasty descended from Henry Tudor; Tudor monarchs ruled from Henry VII to Elizabeth I (from 1485 to 1603)
From this reading NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON I stood at Harley’s open window--looking down in the Tudor garden.
unrewardedadjective
having acquired or gained nothing
From this reading Nothing whatever of an unusual nature had occurred, and although Harley and I had listened for any sound of nocturnal footsteps, our vigilance had passed unrewarded.
unrollingverbUS /ˌʌnˈroʊlɪŋ/
-ing form of “unroll” — reverse the winding or twisting of
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
unusualadjectiveUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəl/
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading Nothing whatever of an unusual nature had occurred, and although Harley and I had listened for any sound of nocturnal footsteps, our vigilance had passed unrewarded.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
vigilancenounUS /ˈvɪdʒələns/
the process of paying close and continuous attention
From this reading Nothing whatever of an unusual nature had occurred, and although Harley and I had listened for any sound of nocturnal footsteps, our vigilance had passed unrewarded.
warningnounUS /ˈwɔːrnɪŋ/
a message informing of danger
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading Nothing whatever of an unusual nature had occurred, and although Harley and I had listened for any sound of nocturnal footsteps, our vigilance had passed unrewarded.
wideadjectiveUS /waɪd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/
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 NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON I stood at Harley’s open window--looking down in the Tudor garden.
windowsnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊz/
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Harley, unrolling the Chinese ladder, had set out upon a secret tour of the grounds, warning me that it must be a long business, since the brilliance of the moonlight rendered it necessary that he should make a wide detour, in order to avoid possible observation from the windows.
