used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH Three days of raw chill, leaden cloud, and numbing wind rolled past.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
BleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/
offering little or no hope
From this reading Bleak November was drawing near.
BREAKSnounUS /breɪks/
plural of “break” — some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity
From this reading THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH Three days of raw chill, leaden cloud, and numbing wind rolled past.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading Through each gray day the dying leaves fluttered limply down, carpeting the damp ground thicker and thicker with yellow and crimson and brown.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading No more rain fell, but, except by fitful gleams, no sun shone.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading No more rain fell, but, except by fitful gleams, no sun shone.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
carpetingnounUS /ˈkɑːrpətɪŋ/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading Through each gray day the dying leaves fluttered limply down, carpeting the damp ground thicker and thicker with yellow and crimson and brown.
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH Three days of raw chill, leaden cloud, and numbing wind rolled past.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH Three days of raw chill, leaden cloud, and numbing wind rolled past.
plural of “comrade” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
cricketnounUS /ˈkrɪkət/
leaping insect; male makes chirping noises by rubbing the forewings together
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
crimsonadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmzən/
of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
From this reading Through each gray day the dying leaves fluttered limply down, carpeting the damp ground thicker and thicker with yellow and crimson and brown.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading Through each gray day the dying leaves fluttered limply down, carpeting the damp ground thicker and thicker with yellow and crimson and brown.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Through each gray day the dying leaves fluttered limply down, carpeting the damp ground thicker and thicker with yellow and crimson and brown.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH Three days of raw chill, leaden cloud, and numbing wind rolled past.
despairinglyadverb
with desperation
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Through each gray day the dying leaves fluttered limply down, carpeting the damp ground thicker and thicker with yellow and crimson and brown.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading Bleak November was drawing near.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading Through each gray day the dying leaves fluttered limply down, carpeting the damp ground thicker and thicker with yellow and crimson and brown.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Through each gray day the dying leaves fluttered limply down, carpeting the damp ground thicker and thicker with yellow and crimson and brown.
apart from; not including
From this reading No more rain fell, but, except by fitful gleams, no sun shone.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading No more rain fell, but, except by fitful gleams, no sun shone.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
fitfuladjectiveUS /ˈfɪtfəl/
occurring in spells and often abruptly
From this reading No more rain fell, but, except by fitful gleams, no sun shone.
flutteredverbUS /ˈflʌtərd/
past form of “flutter” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading Through each gray day the dying leaves fluttered limply down, carpeting the damp ground thicker and thicker with yellow and crimson and brown.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
gleamsnounUS /ɡliːmz/
plural of “gleam” — an appearance of reflected light
From this reading No more rain fell, but, except by fitful gleams, no sun shone.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Through each gray day the dying leaves fluttered limply down, carpeting the damp ground thicker and thicker with yellow and crimson and brown.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Through each gray day the dying leaves fluttered limply down, carpeting the damp ground thicker and thicker with yellow and crimson and brown.
hardyadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdi/
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
katydids
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
leadenadjectiveUS /ˈledən/
darkened with overcast
From this reading THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH Three days of raw chill, leaden cloud, and numbing wind rolled past.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Through each gray day the dying leaves fluttered limply down, carpeting the damp ground thicker and thicker with yellow and crimson and brown.
limplyadverb
without rigidity
From this reading Through each gray day the dying leaves fluttered limply down, carpeting the damp ground thicker and thicker with yellow and crimson and brown.
for more time
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading No more rain fell, but, except by fitful gleams, no sun shone.
mournfuladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrnfəl/
expressing sorrow
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
myriadnounUS /ˈmɪriəd/
a large indefinite number
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Bleak November was drawing near.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
not any; not one
From this reading No more rain fell, but, except by fitful gleams, no sun shone.
NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/
the month following October and preceding December
From this reading Bleak November was drawing near.
numbingadjectiveUS /ˈnʌmɪŋ/
causing numbness or insensitivity
From this reading THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH Three days of raw chill, leaden cloud, and numbing wind rolled past.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH Three days of raw chill, leaden cloud, and numbing wind rolled past.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH Three days of raw chill, leaden cloud, and numbing wind rolled past.
quacked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading No more rain fell, but, except by fitful gleams, no sun shone.
rawadjectiveUS /rɑː/
(used especially of commodities) being unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes
From this reading THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH Three days of raw chill, leaden cloud, and numbing wind rolled past.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH Three days of raw chill, leaden cloud, and numbing wind rolled past.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading No more rain fell, but, except by fitful gleams, no sun shone.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH Three days of raw chill, leaden cloud, and numbing wind rolled past.
survivorsnounUS /sərˈvaɪvərz/
plural of “survivor” — one who lives through affliction
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH Three days of raw chill, leaden cloud, and numbing wind rolled past.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
thickeradjectiveUS /ˈθɪkər/
comparative of “thick” — not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading Through each gray day the dying leaves fluttered limply down, carpeting the damp ground thicker and thicker with yellow and crimson and brown.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH Three days of raw chill, leaden cloud, and numbing wind rolled past.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH Three days of raw chill, leaden cloud, and numbing wind rolled past.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Bleak November was drawing near.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Through each black night a few hardy survivors of the former myriad of katydids quacked despairingly, and here and there a cricket sounded a mournful call to comrades which no longer answered him.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH Three days of raw chill, leaden cloud, and numbing wind rolled past.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Through each gray day the dying leaves fluttered limply down, carpeting the damp ground thicker and thicker with yellow and crimson and brown.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading Through each gray day the dying leaves fluttered limply down, carpeting the damp ground thicker and thicker with yellow and crimson and brown.
