used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE PURPLE CABRIOLET It was a wet night.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Within, on the rough cobbles of the yard, the rain splashed and spurted like a thousand dancing knives.
archwaynounUS /ˈɑːrtʃweɪ/
a passageway under a curved masonry construction
From this reading The low archway leading into Pump Yard, Saint James’s, framed a nocturne of London beneath weeping skies.
asphaltnounUS /ˈæsfɔːlt/
mixed asphalt and crushed gravel or sand; used especially for paving but also for roofing
From this reading The street beyond was a shining sheet of wet, the lamps making blurred streaks of yellow on the gleaming surface of the asphalt.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The low archway leading into Pump Yard, Saint James’s, framed a nocturne of London beneath weeping skies.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The street beyond was a shining sheet of wet, the lamps making blurred streaks of yellow on the gleaming surface of the asphalt.
blurredadjectiveUS /blɜːrd/
indistinct or hazy in outline
From this reading The street beyond was a shining sheet of wet, the lamps making blurred streaks of yellow on the gleaming surface of the asphalt.
CABRIOLETnounUS /ˌkæbrioʊˈleɪ/
small two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage; with two seats and a folding hood
From this reading THE PURPLE CABRIOLET It was a wet night.
cobbles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within, on the rough cobbles of the yard, the rain splashed and spurted like a thousand dancing knives.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading Within, on the rough cobbles of the yard, the rain splashed and spurted like a thousand dancing knives.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The rain fell in torrents.
framedadjectiveUS /freɪmd/
provided with a frame
From this reading The low archway leading into Pump Yard, Saint James’s, framed a nocturne of London beneath weeping skies.
gleamingnounUS /ˈɡliːmɪŋ/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading The street beyond was a shining sheet of wet, the lamps making blurred streaks of yellow on the gleaming surface of the asphalt.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The rain fell in torrents.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The low archway leading into Pump Yard, Saint James’s, framed a nocturne of London beneath weeping skies.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE PURPLE CABRIOLET It was a wet night.
James'snounUS /ˈdʒeɪmzɪz/
possessive form of “james” — a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading The low archway leading into Pump Yard, Saint James’s, framed a nocturne of London beneath weeping skies.
knivesnounUS /naɪvz/
plural of “knife” — edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading Within, on the rough cobbles of the yard, the rain splashed and spurted like a thousand dancing knives.
lampsnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The street beyond was a shining sheet of wet, the lamps making blurred streaks of yellow on the gleaming surface of the asphalt.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading The low archway leading into Pump Yard, Saint James’s, framed a nocturne of London beneath weeping skies.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Within, on the rough cobbles of the yard, the rain splashed and spurted like a thousand dancing knives.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading The low archway leading into Pump Yard, Saint James’s, framed a nocturne of London beneath weeping skies.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The low archway leading into Pump Yard, Saint James’s, framed a nocturne of London beneath weeping skies.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading The street beyond was a shining sheet of wet, the lamps making blurred streaks of yellow on the gleaming surface of the asphalt.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE PURPLE CABRIOLET It was a wet night.
nocturnenoun
a pensive lyrical piece of music (especially for the piano)
From this reading The low archway leading into Pump Yard, Saint James’s, framed a nocturne of London beneath weeping skies.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The low archway leading into Pump Yard, Saint James’s, framed a nocturne of London beneath weeping skies.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The street beyond was a shining sheet of wet, the lamps making blurred streaks of yellow on the gleaming surface of the asphalt.
PumpverbUS /pʌmp/
operate like a pump; move up and down, like a handle or a pedal
From this reading The low archway leading into Pump Yard, Saint James’s, framed a nocturne of London beneath weeping skies.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading THE PURPLE CABRIOLET It was a wet night.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The rain fell in torrents.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading Within, on the rough cobbles of the yard, the rain splashed and spurted like a thousand dancing knives.
a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization
From this reading The low archway leading into Pump Yard, Saint James’s, framed a nocturne of London beneath weeping skies.
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading The street beyond was a shining sheet of wet, the lamps making blurred streaks of yellow on the gleaming surface of the asphalt.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading The street beyond was a shining sheet of wet, the lamps making blurred streaks of yellow on the gleaming surface of the asphalt.
skiesnounUS /skaɪz/
plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The low archway leading into Pump Yard, Saint James’s, framed a nocturne of London beneath weeping skies.
splashedadjectiveUS /splæʃt/
(of a fluid) having been propelled about in flying drops or masses
From this reading Within, on the rough cobbles of the yard, the rain splashed and spurted like a thousand dancing knives.
spurtedverbUS /ˈspɜːrtɪd/
past form of “spurt” — gush forth in a sudden stream or jet
From this reading Within, on the rough cobbles of the yard, the rain splashed and spurted like a thousand dancing knives.
streaksnounUS /striːks/
plural of “streak” — an unbroken series of events
From this reading The street beyond was a shining sheet of wet, the lamps making blurred streaks of yellow on the gleaming surface of the asphalt.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The street beyond was a shining sheet of wet, the lamps making blurred streaks of yellow on the gleaming surface of the asphalt.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading The street beyond was a shining sheet of wet, the lamps making blurred streaks of yellow on the gleaming surface of the asphalt.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PURPLE CABRIOLET It was a wet night.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Within, on the rough cobbles of the yard, the rain splashed and spurted like a thousand dancing knives.
torrentsnounUS /ˈtɔːrənts/
plural of “torrent” — a heavy rain
From this reading The rain fell in torrents.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE PURPLE CABRIOLET It was a wet night.
showing sorrow
From this reading The low archway leading into Pump Yard, Saint James’s, framed a nocturne of London beneath weeping skies.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading THE PURPLE CABRIOLET It was a wet night.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Within, on the rough cobbles of the yard, the rain splashed and spurted like a thousand dancing knives.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The low archway leading into Pump Yard, Saint James’s, framed a nocturne of London beneath weeping skies.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading The street beyond was a shining sheet of wet, the lamps making blurred streaks of yellow on the gleaming surface of the asphalt.
