used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was an August evening, still and cloudy after a day unusually chilly for the time of year.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
advancingadjectiveUS /ədˈvænsɪŋ/
moving forward
From this reading Against that glowing background lay the village, already engulfed by the advancing shadow.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was an August evening, still and cloudy after a day unusually chilly for the time of year.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Against that glowing background lay the village, already engulfed by the advancing shadow.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Against that glowing background lay the village, already engulfed by the advancing shadow.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an August evening, still and cloudy after a day unusually chilly for the time of year.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was an August evening, still and cloudy after a day unusually chilly for the time of year.
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading It was an August evening, still and cloudy after a day unusually chilly for the time of year.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading Against that glowing background lay the village, already engulfed by the advancing shadow.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
the act of breaking something
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Against that glowing background lay the village, already engulfed by the advancing shadow.
chalknounUS /tʃɔːk/
A soft white limestone used for marking doors, stone walls, and slate.
From this reading The last radiant light was on the wheat-fields under the hill, and on the long chalk hill itself.
chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/
not characterized by emotion
From this reading It was an August evening, still and cloudy after a day unusually chilly for the time of year.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
cloudyadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdi/
lacking definite form or limits
From this reading It was an August evening, still and cloudy after a day unusually chilly for the time of year.
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading "ROBERT ELSMERE," "THE HISTORY OF DAVID GRIEVE," "MARCELLA," ETC.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was an August evening, still and cloudy after a day unusually chilly for the time of year.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
departingverbUS /dɪˈpɑːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “depart” — move away from a place into another direction
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
ELSMERE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "ROBERT ELSMERE," "THE HISTORY OF DAVID GRIEVE," "MARCELLA," ETC.
engulfedverbUS /ɪnˈɡʌlft/
past form of “engulf” — devote (oneself) fully to
From this reading Against that glowing background lay the village, already engulfed by the advancing shadow.
ETC
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "ROBERT ELSMERE," "THE HISTORY OF DAVID GRIEVE," "MARCELLA," ETC.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading It was an August evening, still and cloudy after a day unusually chilly for the time of year.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was an August evening, still and cloudy after a day unusually chilly for the time of year.
forcingverbUS /ˈfɔːrsɪŋ/
-ing form of “force” — to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
glowingadjectiveUS /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/
highly enthusiastic
From this reading Against that glowing background lay the village, already engulfed by the advancing shadow.
goldsnounUS /ɡoʊldz/
plural of “gold” — coins made of gold
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
greys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
GRIEVEverbUS /ɡriːv/
feel grief
From this reading "ROBERT ELSMERE," "THE HISTORY OF DAVID GRIEVE," "MARCELLA," ETC.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The last radiant light was on the wheat-fields under the hill, and on the long chalk hill itself.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading "ROBERT ELSMERE," "THE HISTORY OF DAVID GRIEVE," "MARCELLA," ETC.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an August evening, still and cloudy after a day unusually chilly for the time of year.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The last radiant light was on the wheat-fields under the hill, and on the long chalk hill itself.
immediately past
From this reading The last radiant light was on the wheat-fields under the hill, and on the long chalk hill itself.
lattice-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Against that glowing background lay the village, already engulfed by the advancing shadow.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The last radiant light was on the wheat-fields under the hill, and on the long chalk hill itself.
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 The last radiant light was on the wheat-fields under the hill, and on the long chalk hill itself.
MARCELLA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "ROBERT ELSMERE," "THE HISTORY OF DAVID GRIEVE," "MARCELLA," ETC.
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "ROBERT ELSMERE," "THE HISTORY OF DAVID GRIEVE," "MARCELLA," ETC.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The last radiant light was on the wheat-fields under the hill, and on the long chalk hill itself.
radiantadjectiveUS /ˈreɪdiːənt/
radiating or as if radiating light
From this reading The last radiant light was on the wheat-fields under the hill, and on the long chalk hill itself.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading "ROBERT ELSMERE," "THE HISTORY OF DAVID GRIEVE," "MARCELLA," ETC.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Against that glowing background lay the village, already engulfed by the advancing shadow.
not in physical motion
From this reading It was an August evening, still and cloudy after a day unusually chilly for the time of year.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
temperaturenounUS /ˈtemprətʃər/
the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment (corresponding to its molecular activity)
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Against that glowing background lay the village, already engulfed by the advancing shadow.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "ROBERT ELSMERE," "THE HISTORY OF DAVID GRIEVE," "MARCELLA," ETC.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was an August evening, still and cloudy after a day unusually chilly for the time of year.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The last radiant light was on the wheat-fields under the hill, and on the long chalk hill itself.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading It was an August evening, still and cloudy after a day unusually chilly for the time of year.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading Against that glowing background lay the village, already engulfed by the advancing shadow.
warmernounUS /ˈwɔːrmər/
device that heats water or supplies warmth to a room
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was an August evening, still and cloudy after a day unusually chilly for the time of year.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Now, about sunset, the temperature was warmer than it had been in the morning, and the departing sun was forcing its way through the clouds, breaking up their level masses into delicate lattice-work of golds and greys.
wheat-fields
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The last radiant light was on the wheat-fields under the hill, and on the long chalk hill itself.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading It was an August evening, still and cloudy after a day unusually chilly for the time of year.
