used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then came the first whimper of a waking bird, followed as by magic by the shrill piping from a thousand throats.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The stars sank back as the gray light increased in the vault above.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The dawn was creeping up over Pevensel when Isaac, Dan, and Bess came through the woods towards the hamlet.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The stars sank back as the gray light increased in the vault above.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The stars sank back as the gray light increased in the vault above.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Ye shall not be doing murder this night, father,” he said.
Bess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dawn was creeping up over Pevensel when Isaac, Dan, and Bess came through the woods towards the hamlet.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Then came the first whimper of a waking bird, followed as by magic by the shrill piping from a thousand throats.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Then came the first whimper of a waking bird, followed as by magic by the shrill piping from a thousand throats.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The dawn was creeping up over Pevensel when Isaac, Dan, and Bess came through the woods towards the hamlet.
creepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading The dawn was creeping up over Pevensel when Isaac, Dan, and Bess came through the woods towards the hamlet.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dawn was creeping up over Pevensel when Isaac, Dan, and Bess came through the woods towards the hamlet.
the first light of day
From this reading The dawn was creeping up over Pevensel when Isaac, Dan, and Bess came through the woods towards the hamlet.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading “Ye shall not be doing murder this night, father,” he said.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading “Ye shall not be doing murder this night, father,” he said.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Then came the first whimper of a waking bird, followed as by magic by the shrill piping from a thousand throats.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Then came the first whimper of a waking bird, followed as by magic by the shrill piping from a thousand throats.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The forest was full of mist and silence, vague and ghostly vapor standing in the glades.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then came the first whimper of a waking bird, followed as by magic by the shrill piping from a thousand throats.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The forest was full of mist and silence, vague and ghostly vapor standing in the glades.
ghostlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊstli/
resembling or characteristic of a phantom
From this reading The forest was full of mist and silence, vague and ghostly vapor standing in the glades.
gladesnounUS /ɡleɪdz/
plural of “glade” — a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading The forest was full of mist and silence, vague and ghostly vapor standing in the glades.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The stars sank back as the gray light increased in the vault above.
hamletnounUS /ˈhæmlət/
a community of people smaller than a village
From this reading The dawn was creeping up over Pevensel when Isaac, Dan, and Bess came through the woods towards the hamlet.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Ye shall not be doing murder this night, father,” he said.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The forest was full of mist and silence, vague and ghostly vapor standing in the glades.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading The stars sank back as the gray light increased in the vault above.
IsaacnounUS /ˈaɪzək/
(Old Testament) the second patriarch; son of Abraham and Sarah who was offered by Abraham as a sacrifice to God; father of Jacob and Esau
From this reading The dawn was creeping up over Pevensel when Isaac, Dan, and Bess came through the woods towards the hamlet.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The stars sank back as the gray light increased in the vault above.
any art that invokes supernatural powers
From this reading Then came the first whimper of a waking bird, followed as by magic by the shrill piping from a thousand throats.
become covered with mist
From this reading The forest was full of mist and silence, vague and ghostly vapor standing in the glades.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading “Ye shall not be doing murder this night, father,” he said.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading “Ye shall not be doing murder this night, father,” he said.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Ye shall not be doing murder this night, father,” he said.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The forest was full of mist and silence, vague and ghostly vapor standing in the glades.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The dawn was creeping up over Pevensel when Isaac, Dan, and Bess came through the woods towards the hamlet.
Pevensel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dawn was creeping up over Pevensel when Isaac, Dan, and Bess came through the woods towards the hamlet.
pipingnounUS /ˈpaɪpɪŋ/
a thin strip of covered cord used to edge hems
From this reading Then came the first whimper of a waking bird, followed as by magic by the shrill piping from a thousand throats.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Ye shall not be doing murder this night, father,” he said.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading The stars sank back as the gray light increased in the vault above.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “Ye shall not be doing murder this night, father,” he said.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading Then came the first whimper of a waking bird, followed as by magic by the shrill piping from a thousand throats.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The forest was full of mist and silence, vague and ghostly vapor standing in the glades.
having a supporting base
From this reading The forest was full of mist and silence, vague and ghostly vapor standing in the glades.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading The stars sank back as the gray light increased in the vault above.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The dawn was creeping up over Pevensel when Isaac, Dan, and Bess came through the woods towards the hamlet.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then came the first whimper of a waking bird, followed as by magic by the shrill piping from a thousand throats.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Ye shall not be doing murder this night, father,” he said.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Then came the first whimper of a waking bird, followed as by magic by the shrill piping from a thousand throats.
throatsnounUS /θroʊts/
plural of “throat” — the passage to the stomach and lungs; in the front part of the neck below the chin and above the collarbone
From this reading Then came the first whimper of a waking bird, followed as by magic by the shrill piping from a thousand throats.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The dawn was creeping up over Pevensel when Isaac, Dan, and Bess came through the woods towards the hamlet.
in the direction of
From this reading The dawn was creeping up over Pevensel when Isaac, Dan, and Bess came through the woods towards the hamlet.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The dawn was creeping up over Pevensel when Isaac, Dan, and Bess came through the woods towards the hamlet.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading The forest was full of mist and silence, vague and ghostly vapor standing in the glades.
vapornounUS /ˈveɪpər/
a visible suspension in the air of particles of some substance
From this reading The forest was full of mist and silence, vague and ghostly vapor standing in the glades.
vaultnounUS /vɒlt/
An arched structure of masonry forming a ceiling, or a secure subterranean storage room.
From this reading The stars sank back as the gray light increased in the vault above.
wakingadjectiveUS /ˈweɪ.kɪŋ/
Risen from sleep; conscious.
From this reading Then came the first whimper of a waking bird, followed as by magic by the shrill piping from a thousand throats.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The dawn was creeping up over Pevensel when Isaac, Dan, and Bess came through the woods towards the hamlet.
at the time that
From this reading The dawn was creeping up over Pevensel when Isaac, Dan, and Bess came through the woods towards the hamlet.
whimperverbUS /ˈwɪmpər/
cry weakly or softly
From this reading Then came the first whimper of a waking bird, followed as by magic by the shrill piping from a thousand throats.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The dawn was creeping up over Pevensel when Isaac, Dan, and Bess came through the woods towards the hamlet.
an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person
From this reading “Ye shall not be doing murder this night, father,” he said.
