used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading 'Beautiful she was in life, yet nothing in it was so beautiful as her departing from it.'
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
cause to be bored
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By the light of the flaming ship we had set sail.
crestsnounUS /krests/
plural of “crest” — the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
death-bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
departingverbUS /dɪˈpɑːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “depart” — move away from a place into another direction
From this reading 'Beautiful she was in life, yet nothing in it was so beautiful as her departing from it.'
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading 'A true swan is she to the end,' said Harry softly, as though moved by the scene.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
fieryadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪəri/
characterized by intense emotion
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
fire-flecked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
fitfuladjectiveUS /ˈfɪtfəl/
occurring in spells and often abruptly
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
flamingadjectiveUS /ˈfleɪmɪŋ/
informal intensifiers
From this reading By the light of the flaming ship we had set sail.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
gleamsnounUS /ɡliːmz/
plural of “gleam” — an appearance of reflected light
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
coins made of gold
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading By the light of the flaming ship we had set sail.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading 'A true swan is she to the end,' said Harry softly, as though moved by the scene.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading 'Beautiful she was in life, yet nothing in it was so beautiful as her departing from it.'
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'A true swan is she to the end,' said Harry softly, as though moved by the scene.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
kissesnounUS /ˈkɪsəz/
plural of “kiss” — the act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof)
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading 'Beautiful she was in life, yet nothing in it was so beautiful as her departing from it.'
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading By the light of the flaming ship we had set sail.
linkverbUS /lɪŋk/
make a logical or causal connection
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
luridadjectiveUS /ˈlʊrəd/
horrible in fierceness or savagery
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
moltenadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊltən/
reduced to liquid form by heating
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading 'A true swan is she to the end,' said Harry softly, as though moved by the scene.
in motion
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading 'Beautiful she was in life, yet nothing in it was so beautiful as her departing from it.'
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By the light of the flaming ship we had set sail.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
onwardadverbUS /ˈɔːnwərd/
forward in time or order or degree
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
pallverbUS /pɑːl/
become less interesting or attractive
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading 'A true swan is she to the end,' said Harry softly, as though moved by the scene.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading By the light of the flaming ship we had set sail.
past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading 'A true swan is she to the end,' said Harry softly, as though moved by the scene.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading By the light of the flaming ship we had set sail.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading 'A true swan is she to the end,' said Harry softly, as though moved by the scene.
transport commercially
From this reading By the light of the flaming ship we had set sail.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading 'Beautiful she was in life, yet nothing in it was so beautiful as her departing from it.'
with low volume
From this reading 'A true swan is she to the end,' said Harry softly, as though moved by the scene.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
swanverbUS /swɑːn/
to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
From this reading 'A true swan is she to the end,' said Harry softly, as though moved by the scene.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading By the light of the flaming ship we had set sail.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
up to a particular time
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading 'A true swan is she to the end,' said Harry softly, as though moved by the scene.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading By the light of the flaming ship we had set sail.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading A sea of molten gold was her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us farewell kisses from our lost ship.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was a moving sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke.
but in spite of that
From this reading 'Beautiful she was in life, yet nothing in it was so beautiful as her departing from it.'
