used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
(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 Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was the cry of an instrument of music, a stringed instrument of some kind, plucked by demure fingers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was a reiteration of the sound which she thought she had heard as she waited outside the tent, and this time she was no longer in doubt.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
make calm or still
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading A whimsical Eastern melody, very delicate and pathetic, crept to her from without.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading It was the cry of an instrument of music, a stringed instrument of some kind, plucked by demure fingers.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading A whimsical Eastern melody, very delicate and pathetic, crept to her from without.
demureadjectiveUS /dɪˈmjʊr/
affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way
From this reading It was the cry of an instrument of music, a stringed instrument of some kind, plucked by demure fingers.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading It was a reiteration of the sound which she thought she had heard as she waited outside the tent, and this time she was no longer in doubt.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
EasternadjectiveUS /ˈiːstərn/
lying toward or situated in the east
From this reading A whimsical Eastern melody, very delicate and pathetic, crept to her from without.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading It was the cry of an instrument of music, a stringed instrument of some kind, plucked by demure fingers.
frailadjectiveUS /freɪl/
physically weak
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
frailtynounUS /ˈfreɪlti/
the state of being weak in health or body (especially from old age)
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A whimsical Eastern melody, very delicate and pathetic, crept to her from without.
gustnounUS /ɡʌst/
a strong current of air
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was a reiteration of the sound which she thought she had heard as she waited outside the tent, and this time she was no longer in doubt.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/
a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading It was the cry of an instrument of music, a stringed instrument of some kind, plucked by demure fingers.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a reiteration of the sound which she thought she had heard as she waited outside the tent, and this time she was no longer in doubt.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
and nothing more
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading It was the cry of an instrument of music, a stringed instrument of some kind, plucked by demure fingers.
for more time
From this reading It was a reiteration of the sound which she thought she had heard as she waited outside the tent, and this time she was no longer in doubt.
melodynounUS /ˈmelədi/
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading A whimsical Eastern melody, very delicate and pathetic, crept to her from without.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading It was the cry of an instrument of music, a stringed instrument of some kind, plucked by demure fingers.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
not any; not one
From this reading It was a reiteration of the sound which she thought she had heard as she waited outside the tent, and this time she was no longer in doubt.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a reiteration of the sound which she thought she had heard as she waited outside the tent, and this time she was no longer in doubt.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading It was a reiteration of the sound which she thought she had heard as she waited outside the tent, and this time she was no longer in doubt.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
patheticadjectiveUS /pəˈθetɪk/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading A whimsical Eastern melody, very delicate and pathetic, crept to her from without.
pluckedadjectiveUS /plʌkt/
of a stringed instrument; sounded with the fingers or a plectrum
From this reading It was the cry of an instrument of music, a stringed instrument of some kind, plucked by demure fingers.
reiterationnounUS /riˌɪtərˈeɪʃən/
the act of repeating over and again (or an instance thereof)
From this reading It was a reiteration of the sound which she thought she had heard as she waited outside the tent, and this time she was no longer in doubt.
recurring again and again
From this reading The cry was repeated.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
sandsnounUS /sændz/
the region of the shore of a lake or sea or ocean
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was the cry of an instrument of music, a stringed instrument of some kind, plucked by demure fingers.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
stringedverbUS /strɪŋd/
past form of “string” — thread on or as if on a string
From this reading It was the cry of an instrument of music, a stringed instrument of some kind, plucked by demure fingers.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading It was a reiteration of the sound which she thought she had heard as she waited outside the tent, and this time she was no longer in doubt.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was a reiteration of the sound which she thought she had heard as she waited outside the tent, and this time she was no longer in doubt.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading It was a reiteration of the sound which she thought she had heard as she waited outside the tent, and this time she was no longer in doubt.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was a reiteration of the sound which she thought she had heard as she waited outside the tent, and this time she was no longer in doubt.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A whimsical Eastern melody, very delicate and pathetic, crept to her from without.
precisely as stated
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading It was a reiteration of the sound which she thought she had heard as she waited outside the tent, and this time she was no longer in doubt.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
waywardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
whimsicaladjectiveUS /ˈwɪmzɪkəl/
determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason
From this reading A whimsical Eastern melody, very delicate and pathetic, crept to her from without.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Just then the night wind, which blew waywardly over the sands, now rising in a gust that was almost fierce, now dying away into a calm that was almost complete, failed suddenly, and she heard a frail sound which, by its very frailty, engaged all her attention.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading A whimsical Eastern melody, very delicate and pathetic, crept to her from without.
