used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
AbbeynounUS /ˈæbi/
a church associated with a monastery or convent
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
(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 All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
basementnounUS /ˈbeɪsmənt/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
CANONnounUS /ˈkænən/
a rule or especially body of rules or principles generally established as valid and fundamental in a field of art or philosophy
From this reading CANON PASCAL.
cherub-heads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.
clusteredadjectiveUS /ˈklʌstərd/
growing close together but not in dense mats
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
countlessadjectiveUS /ˈkaʊntləs/
too numerous to be counted
From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.
darklyadverbUS /ˈdɑːrkli/
without light
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
faintlyadverbUS /ˈfeɪntli/
to a faint degree or weakly perceived
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
glimmernounUS /ˈɡlɪmər/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
glitteredverbUS /ˈɡlɪtərd/
past form of “glitter” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
halonounUS /ˈheɪloʊ/
an indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a saint
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
inclosed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
innumerableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnuːmərəbəl/
too numerous to be counted
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
interspaces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
lampsnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
any art that invokes supernatural powers
From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
many times at short intervals
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
outlinedadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtlaɪnd/
showing clearly the outline or profile or boundary
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
OverheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
ParliamentnounUS /ˈpɑːrləmənt/
a legislative assembly in certain countries
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
PASCALnounUS /pæˈskæl/
a unit of pressure equal to one newton per square meter
From this reading CANON PASCAL.
pilenounUS /paɪl/
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
rattleverbUS /ˈrætəl/
make short successive sounds
From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
move hurridly
From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
sessionnounUS /ˈseʃən/
a meeting for execution of a group's functions
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
get rid of
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
silveryadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlvəri/
resembling or reminiscent of silver
From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
a state of social isolation
From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
in or at that place or location
From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
threadsnounUS /θredz/
informal terms for clothing
From this reading Overhead a countless host of little silvery clouds covered the sky, with fine threads and interspaces of dark blue lying between them.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
vaguelyadverbUS /ˈveɪɡli/
in a vague way
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
vapornounUS /ˈveɪpər/
a visible suspension in the air of particles of some substance
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
veiledadjectiveUS /veɪld/
having or as if having a veil or concealing cover
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All about them there was the rush and rattle of busy life, but the Abbey seemed inclosed in a magic circle of solitude and stillness.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The moon, pale and bright, seemed to be drifting slowly among them, sometimes behind them, and faintly veiled by their light vapor; but more often the little clouds made way for her, and clustered round, in a circle of vaguely outlined cherub-heads, golden brown in the halo she shed about her.
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The massive pile of the old Abbey stood darkly against the sky, with not a glimmer of light shining through its many windows; whilst behind it the Houses of Parliament, now in full session, glittered from roof to basement with innumerable lamps.
