used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
anew
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I finished my business as quickly as possible, and we set out for Starkfield with a good chance of getting there for supper.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
bay'snounUS /beɪz/
possessive form of “bay” — an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It seemed to be a part of the thickening darkness, to be the winter night itself descending on us layer by layer.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading I finished my business as quickly as possible, and we set out for Starkfield with a good chance of getting there for supper.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It seemed to be a part of the thickening darkness, to be the winter night itself descending on us layer by layer.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading I finished my business as quickly as possible, and we set out for Starkfield with a good chance of getting there for supper.
clearnessnounUS /ˈklɪrnəs/
free from obscurity and easy to understand; the comprehensibility of clear expression
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
confusingadjectiveUS /kənˈfjuːzɪŋ/
causing confusion or disorientation
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It seemed to be a part of the thickening darkness, to be the winter night itself descending on us layer by layer.
descendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsendɪŋ/
coming down or downward
From this reading It seemed to be a part of the thickening darkness, to be the winter night itself descending on us layer by layer.
diffusionnounUS /dɪˈfjuːʒən/
(physics) the process in which there is movement of a substance from an area of high concentration of that substance to an area of lower concentration
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
eddiesnounUS /ˈediz/
plural of “eddy” — founder of Christian Science in 1866 (1821-1910)
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
divisible by two
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
the organ of sight
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading I finished my business as quickly as possible, and we set out for Starkfield with a good chance of getting there for supper.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I finished my business as quickly as possible, and we set out for Starkfield with a good chance of getting there for supper.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
Frome's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
brought together in one place
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading I finished my business as quickly as possible, and we set out for Starkfield with a good chance of getting there for supper.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading I finished my business as quickly as possible, and we set out for Starkfield with a good chance of getting there for supper.
gustsnounUS /ɡʌsts/
plural of “gust” — a strong current of air
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
homingadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊmɪŋ/
orienting or directing homeward or to a destination
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I finished my business as quickly as possible, and we set out for Starkfield with a good chance of getting there for supper.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
inexperiencedadjectiveUS /ɪnɪkˈspɪriənst/
lacking practical experience or training
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to be a part of the thickening darkness, to be the winter night itself descending on us layer by layer.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading It seemed to be a part of the thickening darkness, to be the winter night itself descending on us layer by layer.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
layernounUS /ˈleɪər/
single thickness of usually some homogeneous substance
From this reading It seemed to be a part of the thickening darkness, to be the winter night itself descending on us layer by layer.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
mediumnounUS /ˈmiːdiəm/
a means or instrumentality for storing or communicating information
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It seemed to be a part of the thickening darkness, to be the winter night itself descending on us layer by layer.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I finished my business as quickly as possible, and we set out for Starkfield with a good chance of getting there for supper.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading It seemed to be a part of the thickening darkness, to be the winter night itself descending on us layer by layer.
pledgeverbUS /pledʒ/
promise solemnly and formally
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading I finished my business as quickly as possible, and we set out for Starkfield with a good chance of getting there for supper.
with speed
From this reading I finished my business as quickly as possible, and we set out for Starkfield with a good chance of getting there for supper.
raynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I finished my business as quickly as possible, and we set out for Starkfield with a good chance of getting there for supper.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
smotheringadjectiveUS /ˈsmʌðərɪŋ/
causing difficulty in breathing especially through lack of fresh air and presence of heat
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
in the near future
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
Starkfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I finished my business as quickly as possible, and we set out for Starkfield with a good chance of getting there for supper.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
successive (without a break)
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading I finished my business as quickly as possible, and we set out for Starkfield with a good chance of getting there for supper.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
in or at that place or location
From this reading I finished my business as quickly as possible, and we set out for Starkfield with a good chance of getting there for supper.
thickeningadjectiveUS /ˈθɪkənɪŋ/
accumulating and becoming more intense
From this reading It seemed to be a part of the thickening darkness, to be the winter night itself descending on us layer by layer.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
universaladjectiveUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl/
of worldwide scope or applicability
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seemed to be a part of the thickening darkness, to be the winter night itself descending on us layer by layer.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I finished my business as quickly as possible, and we set out for Starkfield with a good chance of getting there for supper.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading In the afternoon the storm held off, and the clearness in the west seemed to my inexperienced eye the pledge of a fair evening.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The small ray of Frome’s lantern was soon lost in this smothering medium, in which even his sense of direction, and the bay’s homing instinct, finally ceased to serve us.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading It seemed to be a part of the thickening darkness, to be the winter night itself descending on us layer by layer.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I finished my business as quickly as possible, and we set out for Starkfield with a good chance of getting there for supper.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But at sunset the clouds gathered again, bringing an earlier night, and the snow began to fall straight and steadily from a sky without wind, in a soft universal diffusion more confusing than the gusts and eddies of the morning.
