used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All day long there were signs of a gathering storm.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Great big banks of fierce, sullen clouds began to bank up in the afternoon, and far-off, ominous sounds of thunder were heard.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading All day long the air was thick and murky.
(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 day long the air was thick and murky.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All day long the air was thick and murky.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first it was a mere growl, and the edges of the great jagged clouds were illumined by lightning.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Great big banks of fierce, sullen clouds began to bank up in the afternoon, and far-off, ominous sounds of thunder were heard.
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading Great big banks of fierce, sullen clouds began to bank up in the afternoon, and far-off, ominous sounds of thunder were heard.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Great big banks of fierce, sullen clouds began to bank up in the afternoon, and far-off, ominous sounds of thunder were heard.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Great big banks of fierce, sullen clouds began to bank up in the afternoon, and far-off, ominous sounds of thunder were heard.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading At first it was a mere growl, and the edges of the great jagged clouds were illumined by lightning.
By-and-bye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By-and-bye the thunder grew louder, and cruel forked and chain lightning began to play in the heavens.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading By-and-bye the thunder grew louder, and cruel forked and chain lightning began to play in the heavens.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Great big banks of fierce, sullen clouds began to bank up in the afternoon, and far-off, ominous sounds of thunder were heard.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading By-and-bye the thunder grew louder, and cruel forked and chain lightning began to play in the heavens.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading All day long the air was thick and murky.
edgesnounUS /ˈedʒəz/
plural of “edge” — the boundary of a surface
From this reading At first it was a mere growl, and the edges of the great jagged clouds were illumined by lightning.
far-offadjective
very far away in space or time
From this reading Great big banks of fierce, sullen clouds began to bank up in the afternoon, and far-off, ominous sounds of thunder were heard.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading Great big banks of fierce, sullen clouds began to bank up in the afternoon, and far-off, ominous sounds of thunder were heard.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading At first it was a mere growl, and the edges of the great jagged clouds were illumined by lightning.
forkedadjectiveUS /fɔːrkt/
resembling a fork; divided or separated into two branches
From this reading By-and-bye the thunder grew louder, and cruel forked and chain lightning began to play in the heavens.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading All day long there were signs of a gathering storm.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Great big banks of fierce, sullen clouds began to bank up in the afternoon, and far-off, ominous sounds of thunder were heard.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading By-and-bye the thunder grew louder, and cruel forked and chain lightning began to play in the heavens.
growlnounUS /ɡraʊl/
the sound of growling (as made by animals)
From this reading At first it was a mere growl, and the edges of the great jagged clouds were illumined by lightning.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Great big banks of fierce, sullen clouds began to bank up in the afternoon, and far-off, ominous sounds of thunder were heard.
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading By-and-bye the thunder grew louder, and cruel forked and chain lightning began to play in the heavens.
illuminedverbUS /ˌɪˈluːmənd/
past form of “illumine” — make lighter or brighter
From this reading At first it was a mere growl, and the edges of the great jagged clouds were illumined by lightning.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Great big banks of fierce, sullen clouds began to bank up in the afternoon, and far-off, ominous sounds of thunder were heard.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At first it was a mere growl, and the edges of the great jagged clouds were illumined by lightning.
jaggedadjectiveUS /ˈdʒæɡəd/
having a sharply uneven surface or outline
From this reading At first it was a mere growl, and the edges of the great jagged clouds were illumined by lightning.
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading At first it was a mere growl, and the edges of the great jagged clouds were illumined by lightning.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading All day long the air was thick and murky.
louderadjectiveUS /ˈlaʊdər/
comparative of “loud” — characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading By-and-bye the thunder grew louder, and cruel forked and chain lightning began to play in the heavens.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading At first it was a mere growl, and the edges of the great jagged clouds were illumined by lightning.
murkyadjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrki/
(of liquids) clouded as with sediment
From this reading All day long the air was thick and murky.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All day long there were signs of a gathering storm.
ominousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːmənəs/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading Great big banks of fierce, sullen clouds began to bank up in the afternoon, and far-off, ominous sounds of thunder were heard.
participate in games or sport
From this reading By-and-bye the thunder grew louder, and cruel forked and chain lightning began to play in the heavens.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading All day long there were signs of a gathering storm.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Great big banks of fierce, sullen clouds began to bank up in the afternoon, and far-off, ominous sounds of thunder were heard.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading All day long there were signs of a gathering storm.
sullenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌlən/
showing a brooding ill humor
From this reading Great big banks of fierce, sullen clouds began to bank up in the afternoon, and far-off, ominous sounds of thunder were heard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All day long the air was thick and murky.
in or at that place or location
From this reading All day long there were signs of a gathering storm.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading All day long the air was thick and murky.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading Great big banks of fierce, sullen clouds began to bank up in the afternoon, and far-off, ominous sounds of thunder were heard.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Great big banks of fierce, sullen clouds began to bank up in the afternoon, and far-off, ominous sounds of thunder were heard.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Great big banks of fierce, sullen clouds began to bank up in the afternoon, and far-off, ominous sounds of thunder were heard.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All day long the air was thick and murky.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All day long there were signs of a gathering storm.
