used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading As they mounted, the stars, swinging about in the sky, like incandescent bulbs strung on a wire, made their appearance here and there.
ABOVEprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
AlfrednounUS /ˈælfrəd/
king of Wessex; defeated the Vikings and encouraged writing in English (849-899)
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading As they mounted, the stars, swinging about in the sky, like incandescent bulbs strung on a wire, made their appearance here and there.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As they mounted, the stars, swinging about in the sky, like incandescent bulbs strung on a wire, made their appearance here and there.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
Brightwood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
bulbsnounUS /bʌlbz/
plural of “bulb” — a modified bud consisting of a thickened globular underground stem serving as a reproductive structure
From this reading As they mounted, the stars, swinging about in the sky, like incandescent bulbs strung on a wire, made their appearance here and there.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They came out rapidly, by twos and threes, by scores and hundreds.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They came out rapidly, by twos and threes, by scores and hundreds.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
clustersnounUS /ˈklʌstərz/
plural of “cluster” — a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading In clusters and fantastic figures they swam about in the purple night.
dizzyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪzi/
having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling
From this reading A thousand, two thousand, three, four, five thousand feet she mounted to dizzy heights above the sea.
fantasticadjectiveUS /fænˈtæstɪk/
ludicrously odd
From this reading In clusters and fantastic figures they swam about in the purple night.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading A thousand, two thousand, three, four, five thousand feet she mounted to dizzy heights above the sea.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading In clusters and fantastic figures they swam about in the purple night.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading A thousand, two thousand, three, four, five thousand feet she mounted to dizzy heights above the sea.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading A thousand, two thousand, three, four, five thousand feet she mounted to dizzy heights above the sea.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
heightsnounUS /haɪts/
a high place
From this reading A thousand, two thousand, three, four, five thousand feet she mounted to dizzy heights above the sea.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading As they mounted, the stars, swinging about in the sky, like incandescent bulbs strung on a wire, made their appearance here and there.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading They came out rapidly, by twos and threes, by scores and hundreds.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As they mounted, the stars, swinging about in the sky, like incandescent bulbs strung on a wire, made their appearance here and there.
incandescentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnkənˈdesənt/
emitting light as a result of being heated
From this reading As they mounted, the stars, swinging about in the sky, like incandescent bulbs strung on a wire, made their appearance here and there.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading As they mounted, the stars, swinging about in the sky, like incandescent bulbs strung on a wire, made their appearance here and there.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading As they mounted, the stars, swinging about in the sky, like incandescent bulbs strung on a wire, made their appearance here and there.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading A thousand, two thousand, three, four, five thousand feet she mounted to dizzy heights above the sea.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading In clusters and fantastic figures they swam about in the purple night.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As they mounted, the stars, swinging about in the sky, like incandescent bulbs strung on a wire, made their appearance here and there.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They came out rapidly, by twos and threes, by scores and hundreds.
Petrelnoun
relatively small long-winged tube-nosed bird that flies far from land
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading In clusters and fantastic figures they swam about in the purple night.
with speed
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
scoresnounUS /skɔːrz/
a large number or amount
From this reading They came out rapidly, by twos and threes, by scores and hundreds.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading As they mounted, the stars, swinging about in the sky, like incandescent bulbs strung on a wire, made their appearance here and there.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading As they mounted, the stars, swinging about in the sky, like incandescent bulbs strung on a wire, made their appearance here and there.
StormyadjectiveUS /ˈstɔːrmi/
(especially of weather) affected or characterized by storms or commotion
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
strungadjectiveUS /strʌŋ/
that is on a string
From this reading As they mounted, the stars, swinging about in the sky, like incandescent bulbs strung on a wire, made their appearance here and there.
swamverbUS /swæm/
inflected form of “swim” — travel through water
From this reading In clusters and fantastic figures they swam about in the purple night.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading As they mounted, the stars, swinging about in the sky, like incandescent bulbs strung on a wire, made their appearance here and there.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading As they mounted, the stars, swinging about in the sky, like incandescent bulbs strung on a wire, made their appearance here and there.
in or at that place or location
From this reading As they mounted, the stars, swinging about in the sky, like incandescent bulbs strung on a wire, made their appearance here and there.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As they mounted, the stars, swinging about in the sky, like incandescent bulbs strung on a wire, made their appearance here and there.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading A thousand, two thousand, three, four, five thousand feet she mounted to dizzy heights above the sea.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading A thousand, two thousand, three, four, five thousand feet she mounted to dizzy heights above the sea.
threesnounUS /θriːz/
plural of “three” — the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading They came out rapidly, by twos and threes, by scores and hundreds.
tiltedadjectiveUS /ˈtɪltɪd/
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A thousand, two thousand, three, four, five thousand feet she mounted to dizzy heights above the sea.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading A thousand, two thousand, three, four, five thousand feet she mounted to dizzy heights above the sea.
twosnounUS /tuːz/
plural of “two” — the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading They came out rapidly, by twos and threes, by scores and hundreds.
upwardadjectiveUS /ˈʌpwərd/
directed up
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
at the time that
From this reading A SEA ABOVE A SEA When Alfred Brightwood had tilted the nose of the _Stormy Petrel_ upward and away from the threatening bank of clouds she rose rapidly.
wirenounUS /ˈwaɪər/
ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading As they mounted, the stars, swinging about in the sky, like incandescent bulbs strung on a wire, made their appearance here and there.
