used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I walked about the courthouse, its pillars classic in the shadow, its gilded cupola gaudy in the light.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
afaradverbUS /əˈfɑːr/
(old-fashioned) at or from or to a great distance; far
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
classicnounUS /ˈklæsɪk/
a creation of the highest excellence
From this reading I walked about the courthouse, its pillars classic in the shadow, its gilded cupola gaudy in the light.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
commercenounUS /ˈkɑːmərs/
transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services)
From this reading And upon a rotting yawl I sat down to think, shoulder to shoulder with the ghost of a dead commerce.
courthousenounUS /ˈkɔːrthaʊs/
a government building that houses the offices of a county government
From this reading I walked about the courthouse, its pillars classic in the shadow, its gilded cupola gaudy in the light.
cupolanounUS /kəˈpoʊlə/
a vertical cylindrical furnace for melting iron for casting
From this reading I walked about the courthouse, its pillars classic in the shadow, its gilded cupola gaudy in the light.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading And upon a rotting yawl I sat down to think, shoulder to shoulder with the ghost of a dead commerce.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading And upon a rotting yawl I sat down to think, shoulder to shoulder with the ghost of a dead commerce.
echoverbUS /ˈekoʊ/
to say again or imitate
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
footfallnounUS /ˈfʊtfɔːl/
the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
plural of “garden” — a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
gaudyadjectiveUS /ˈɡɔːdi/
tastelessly showy
From this reading I walked about the courthouse, its pillars classic in the shadow, its gilded cupola gaudy in the light.
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading And upon a rotting yawl I sat down to think, shoulder to shoulder with the ghost of a dead commerce.
gildedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪldɪd/
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading I walked about the courthouse, its pillars classic in the shadow, its gilded cupola gaudy in the light.
the act of departing
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
habitationnounUS /ˌhæbəˈteɪʃən/
the native habitat or home of an animal or plant
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I walked about the courthouse, its pillars classic in the shadow, its gilded cupola gaudy in the light.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
indistinctadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋkt/
not clearly defined or easy to perceive or understand
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading I walked about the courthouse, its pillars classic in the shadow, its gilded cupola gaudy in the light.
JOE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OLD JOE VARK.
laggingnounUS /ˈlæɡɪŋ/
insulation used to wrap around pipes or boilers or laid in attics to prevent loss of heat
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
lazyadjectiveUS /ˈleɪzi/
moving slowly and gently
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
lifelessadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪfləs/
deprived of life; no longer living
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading I walked about the courthouse, its pillars classic in the shadow, its gilded cupola gaudy in the light.
magnolianounUS /mæɡˈnoʊljə/
dried bark of various magnolias; used in folk medicine
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
of an obscure nature
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
plural of “note” — a brief written record
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading OLD JOE VARK.
operanounUS /ˈɑːprə/
a drama set to music; consists of singing with orchestral accompaniment and an orchestral overture and interludes
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
paintverbUS /peɪnt/
make a painting
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
pillarsnounUS /ˈpɪlərz/
plural of “pillar” — a fundamental principle or practice
From this reading I walked about the courthouse, its pillars classic in the shadow, its gilded cupola gaudy in the light.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
rottingnounUS /ˈrɑːtɪŋ/
(biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action
From this reading And upon a rotting yawl I sat down to think, shoulder to shoulder with the ghost of a dead commerce.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading And upon a rotting yawl I sat down to think, shoulder to shoulder with the ghost of a dead commerce.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading I walked about the courthouse, its pillars classic in the shadow, its gilded cupola gaudy in the light.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading And upon a rotting yawl I sat down to think, shoulder to shoulder with the ghost of a dead commerce.
shutternounUS /ˈʃʌtər/
a mechanical device on a camera that opens and closes to control the time of a photographic exposure
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
sickishadjective
feeling nausea; feeling about to vomit
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
sniffverbUS /snɪf/
perceive by inhaling through the nose
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
make square
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
thiefnounUS /θiːf/
a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading And upon a rotting yawl I sat down to think, shoulder to shoulder with the ghost of a dead commerce.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading And upon a rotting yawl I sat down to think, shoulder to shoulder with the ghost of a dead commerce.
VARK
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OLD JOE VARK.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading I walked about the courthouse, its pillars classic in the shadow, its gilded cupola gaudy in the light.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
waververbUS /ˈweɪvər/
pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
at the time that
From this reading The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
in or at the place that
From this reading I did not turn to my habitation across the square, to sniff the lifeless atmosphere and the sickish paint of the opera house; I bent my way to the river where the moon was free.
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 The town was going to bed; the late moon was rising, and in the magnolia gardens there seemed to waver a bright and shadowy silence--a night when every sound was afar off, a half mysterious echo--the closing of a window shutter, the subdued footfall of a thief, the indistinct notes of an old song lagging in the soft and lazy air.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And upon a rotting yawl I sat down to think, shoulder to shoulder with the ghost of a dead commerce.
yawlnoun
a ship's small boat (usually rowed by 4 or 6 oars)
From this reading And upon a rotting yawl I sat down to think, shoulder to shoulder with the ghost of a dead commerce.
