used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Slowly, slowly, the night wore away, and the eastern sky grew rosy with the blush of a new morning--the bridal morning!
in actual fact
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
(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 How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Slowly, slowly, the night wore away, and the eastern sky grew rosy with the blush of a new morning--the bridal morning!
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Slowly, slowly, the night wore away, and the eastern sky grew rosy with the blush of a new morning--the bridal morning!
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading How strangely the house looked--here a room bedecked in festive beauty for the wedding; there one with shrouded mirrors, and floating folds of crape!
bedeckedverbUS /bɪˈdekt/
past form of “bedeck” — decorate
From this reading How strangely the house looked--here a room bedecked in festive beauty for the wedding; there one with shrouded mirrors, and floating folds of crape!
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
blushverbUS /blʌʃ/
turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame
From this reading Slowly, slowly, the night wore away, and the eastern sky grew rosy with the blush of a new morning--the bridal morning!
bridaladjectiveUS /ˈbraɪdəl/
of or relating to a wedding
From this reading Slowly, slowly, the night wore away, and the eastern sky grew rosy with the blush of a new morning--the bridal morning!
centeredadjectiveUS /ˈsentərd/
being or placed in the center
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
crapenoun
small very thin pancake
From this reading How strangely the house looked--here a room bedecked in festive beauty for the wedding; there one with shrouded mirrors, and floating folds of crape!
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
absence of light or illumination
From this reading LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS.
the first light of day
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
drearilyadverb
in a cheerless manner
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
easternadjectiveUS /ˈiːstərn/
lying toward or situated in the east
From this reading Slowly, slowly, the night wore away, and the eastern sky grew rosy with the blush of a new morning--the bridal morning!
one or the other of two
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
EsternounUS /ˈestər/
organic compound formed by reaction between an acid and an alcohol with elimination of water
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
divisible by two
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
festiveadjectiveUS /ˈfestɪv/
offering fun and gaiety
From this reading How strangely the house looked--here a room bedecked in festive beauty for the wedding; there one with shrouded mirrors, and floating folds of crape!
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading How strangely the house looked--here a room bedecked in festive beauty for the wedding; there one with shrouded mirrors, and floating folds of crape!
foldsnounUS /foʊldz/
plural of “fold” — an angular or rounded shape made by folding
From this reading How strangely the house looked--here a room bedecked in festive beauty for the wedding; there one with shrouded mirrors, and floating folds of crape!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading How strangely the house looked--here a room bedecked in festive beauty for the wedding; there one with shrouded mirrors, and floating folds of crape!
funeralnounUS /ˈfjuːnərəl/
a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
glidedverbUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪd/
past form of “glide” — move smoothly and effortlessly
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Slowly, slowly, the night wore away, and the eastern sky grew rosy with the blush of a new morning--the bridal morning!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading How strangely the house looked--here a room bedecked in festive beauty for the wedding; there one with shrouded mirrors, and floating folds of crape!
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading How strangely the house looked--here a room bedecked in festive beauty for the wedding; there one with shrouded mirrors, and floating folds of crape!
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading How strangely the house looked--here a room bedecked in festive beauty for the wedding; there one with shrouded mirrors, and floating folds of crape!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
immediately past
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
mirrorsnounUS /ˈmɪrərz/
plural of “mirror” — polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading How strangely the house looked--here a room bedecked in festive beauty for the wedding; there one with shrouded mirrors, and floating folds of crape!
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Slowly, slowly, the night wore away, and the eastern sky grew rosy with the blush of a new morning--the bridal morning!
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Slowly, slowly, the night wore away, and the eastern sky grew rosy with the blush of a new morning--the bridal morning!
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Slowly, slowly, the night wore away, and the eastern sky grew rosy with the blush of a new morning--the bridal morning!
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading How strangely the house looked--here a room bedecked in festive beauty for the wedding; there one with shrouded mirrors, and floating folds of crape!
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading How strangely the house looked--here a room bedecked in festive beauty for the wedding; there one with shrouded mirrors, and floating folds of crape!
rosyadjectiveUS /ˈroʊzi/
reflecting optimism
From this reading Slowly, slowly, the night wore away, and the eastern sky grew rosy with the blush of a new morning--the bridal morning!
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
shroudedverbUS /ˈʃraʊdɪd/
past form of “shroud” — cover as if with a shroud
From this reading How strangely the house looked--here a room bedecked in festive beauty for the wedding; there one with shrouded mirrors, and floating folds of crape!
shuttingnounUS /ˈʃʌtɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Slowly, slowly, the night wore away, and the eastern sky grew rosy with the blush of a new morning--the bridal morning!
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Slowly, slowly, the night wore away, and the eastern sky grew rosy with the blush of a new morning--the bridal morning!
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
in a strange manner
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Slowly, slowly, the night wore away, and the eastern sky grew rosy with the blush of a new morning--the bridal morning!
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
in or at that place or location
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
having come into contact
From this reading Life and death, a wedding and a funeral--they had never either of them touched so close to her before; and now the one had suddenly glided backward, and left her heart heavy with the coming of the other.
unrealadjectiveUS /ənˈriːl/
lacking in reality or substance or genuineness; not corresponding to acknowledged facts or criteria
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading How strangely the house looked--here a room bedecked in festive beauty for the wedding; there one with shrouded mirrors, and floating folds of crape!
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading How strangely unreal, how even impossible did it seem to Ester, as she raised the curtains and looked drearily out upon the dawn, that this was actually the day upon which her thoughts had centered during the last three weeks What a sudden shutting down had there been to all their plans and preparations!
in the company of; together with
From this reading Slowly, slowly, the night wore away, and the eastern sky grew rosy with the blush of a new morning--the bridal morning!
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading Slowly, slowly, the night wore away, and the eastern sky grew rosy with the blush of a new morning--the bridal morning!
