used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
alasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
(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 She is all the more attractive that we see her through a double veil of retrospection and regret, none the less lovely because her beauty is dimmed and softened in a mist of tears.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/
The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
attractiveadjectiveUS /əˈtræktɪv/
pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm
From this reading She is all the more attractive that we see her through a double veil of retrospection and regret, none the less lovely because her beauty is dimmed and softened in a mist of tears.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading She is all the more attractive that we see her through a double veil of retrospection and regret, none the less lovely because her beauty is dimmed and softened in a mist of tears.
for the reason that
From this reading She is all the more attractive that we see her through a double veil of retrospection and regret, none the less lovely because her beauty is dimmed and softened in a mist of tears.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
the act of burning something
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
chimneynounUS /ˈtʃɪmni/
a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Oh! that we could either completely remember or completely forget.
consumeverbUS /kənˈsuːm/
eat up completely, as with great appetite
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Oh! that we could either completely remember or completely forget.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
detectverbUS /dɪˈtekt/
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
dimmedadjectiveUS /dɪmd/
made dim or less bright
From this reading She is all the more attractive that we see her through a double veil of retrospection and regret, none the less lovely because her beauty is dimmed and softened in a mist of tears.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading It is the golden haze of “middle distance” that sheds on her this warm and tender light.
increase twofold
From this reading She is all the more attractive that we see her through a double veil of retrospection and regret, none the less lovely because her beauty is dimmed and softened in a mist of tears.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
one or the other of two
From this reading Oh! that we could either completely remember or completely forget.
embernounUS /ˈembər/
a hot fragment of wood or coal that is left from a fire and is glowing or smoldering
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
divisible by two
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
flawsnounUS /flɔːz/
plural of “flaw” — an imperfection in an object or machine
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
fleetingadjectiveUS /ˈfliːtɪŋ/
lasting for a markedly brief time
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading Oh! that we could either completely remember or completely forget.
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading It is the golden haze of “middle distance” that sheds on her this warm and tender light.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
hazenounUS /heɪz/
atmospheric moisture or dust or smoke that causes reduced visibility
From this reading It is the golden haze of “middle distance” that sheds on her this warm and tender light.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
an iconic mental representation
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
imperishableadjective
not perishable
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is the golden haze of “middle distance” that sheds on her this warm and tender light.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading She is all the more attractive that we see her through a double veil of retrospection and regret, none the less lovely because her beauty is dimmed and softened in a mist of tears.
the literary culture
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading It is the golden haze of “middle distance” that sheds on her this warm and tender light.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
From this reading She is all the more attractive that we see her through a double veil of retrospection and regret, none the less lovely because her beauty is dimmed and softened in a mist of tears.
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading It is the golden haze of “middle distance” that sheds on her this warm and tender light.
become covered with mist
From this reading She is all the more attractive that we see her through a double veil of retrospection and regret, none the less lovely because her beauty is dimmed and softened in a mist of tears.
Mnemosynenoun
(Greek mythology) the Titaness who was goddess of memory; mother of the Muses
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She is all the more attractive that we see her through a double veil of retrospection and regret, none the less lovely because her beauty is dimmed and softened in a mist of tears.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
not one, and not any
From this reading She is all the more attractive that we see her through a double veil of retrospection and regret, none the less lovely because her beauty is dimmed and softened in a mist of tears.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading Oh! that we could either completely remember or completely forget.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It is the golden haze of “middle distance” that sheds on her this warm and tender light.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Oh! that we could either completely remember or completely forget.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
perishablenounUS /ˈperɪʃəbəl/
food that will decay rapidly if not refrigerated
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading She is all the more attractive that we see her through a double veil of retrospection and regret, none the less lovely because her beauty is dimmed and softened in a mist of tears.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
To recall to mind.
From this reading Oh! that we could either completely remember or completely forget.
removeverbUS /riˈmuːv/
remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
retrospectionnoun
reference to things past
From this reading She is all the more attractive that we see her through a double veil of retrospection and regret, none the less lovely because her beauty is dimmed and softened in a mist of tears.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She is all the more attractive that we see her through a double veil of retrospection and regret, none the less lovely because her beauty is dimmed and softened in a mist of tears.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
shedsnounUS /ʃedz/
plural of “shed” — an outbuilding with a single story; used for shelter or storage
From this reading It is the golden haze of “middle distance” that sheds on her this warm and tender light.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
softenedadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːfənd/
toned down
From this reading She is all the more attractive that we see her through a double veil of retrospection and regret, none the less lovely because her beauty is dimmed and softened in a mist of tears.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading She is all the more attractive that we see her through a double veil of retrospection and regret, none the less lovely because her beauty is dimmed and softened in a mist of tears.
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading It is the golden haze of “middle distance” that sheds on her this warm and tender light.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It is the golden haze of “middle distance” that sheds on her this warm and tender light.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading She is all the more attractive that we see her through a double veil of retrospection and regret, none the less lovely because her beauty is dimmed and softened in a mist of tears.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
a garment that covers the head and face
From this reading She is all the more attractive that we see her through a double veil of retrospection and regret, none the less lovely because her beauty is dimmed and softened in a mist of tears.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading It is the golden haze of “middle distance” that sheds on her this warm and tender light.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Oh! that we could either completely remember or completely forget.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Oh! that the image of Mnemosyne would remain close enough for us to detect the flaws in her imperishable marble, or that she would remove herself so far as to be altogether out of sight.
wroughtadjectiveUS /rɔːt/
shaped to fit by or as if by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort)
From this reading A DAY THAT IS DEAD I have been burning old letters to-night; their ashes are fluttering in the chimney even now; and, alas! while they consume, fleeting and perishable like the moments they record, “each dying ember” seems to have “wrought its ghost” upon my heart.
