used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Those words were the first that were distinctly audible above the hubbub and din prevailing in the courtyard of the Spaniards' new encampment.
consider or hold as true
From this reading _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED._ "General, I have disobeyed your orders, and I accept my punishment, and acknowledge its justice."
acknowledgeverbUS /ækˈnɑːlɪdʒ/
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED._ "General, I have disobeyed your orders, and I accept my punishment, and acknowledge its justice."
(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 In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
amidstprepositionUS /əˈmɪdst/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED._ "General, I have disobeyed your orders, and I accept my punishment, and acknowledge its justice."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
audibleadjectiveUS /ˈɑːdəbəl/
heard or perceptible by the ear
From this reading Those words were the first that were distinctly audible above the hubbub and din prevailing in the courtyard of the Spaniards' new encampment.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED._ "General, I have disobeyed your orders, and I accept my punishment, and acknowledge its justice."
brilliancynoun
a quality that outshines the usual
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
make calm or still
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
Citlaltepelt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
cloudlessadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdləs/
free from clouds
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrt.jɑːrd/
An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by the walls of a house.
From this reading Those words were the first that were distinctly audible above the hubbub and din prevailing in the courtyard of the Spaniards' new encampment.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
dinnounUS /dɪn/
a loud harsh or strident noise
From this reading Those words were the first that were distinctly audible above the hubbub and din prevailing in the courtyard of the Spaniards' new encampment.
disobeyedverbUS /ˌdɪsoʊˈbeɪd/
past form of “disobey” — refuse to go along with; refuse to follow; be disobedient
From this reading _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED._ "General, I have disobeyed your orders, and I accept my punishment, and acknowledge its justice."
dispelledverbUS /dɪˈspeld/
inflected form of “dispel” — force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading Those words were the first that were distinctly audible above the hubbub and din prevailing in the courtyard of the Spaniards' new encampment.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
encampmentnounUS /ɪnˈkæmpmɪnt/
a site where people on holiday can pitch a tent
From this reading Those words were the first that were distinctly audible above the hubbub and din prevailing in the courtyard of the Spaniards' new encampment.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
everlastingadjectiveUS /ˌevərˈlæstɪŋ/
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
the organ of sight
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
fertileadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrtəl/
capable of reproducing
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
start firing a weapon
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Those words were the first that were distinctly audible above the hubbub and din prevailing in the courtyard of the Spaniards' new encampment.
foregroundnounUS /ˈfɔːrɡraʊnd/
the part of a scene that is near the viewer
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED._ "General, I have disobeyed your orders, and I accept my punishment, and acknowledge its justice."
glitteredverbUS /ˈɡlɪtərd/
past form of “glitter” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
gloomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
glowedverbUS /ɡloʊd/
past form of “glow” — emit a steady even light without flames
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
GulfnounUS /ɡʌlf/
an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
half-hournounUS /ˈhæfaʊər/
a half of an hour
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED._ "General, I have disobeyed your orders, and I accept my punishment, and acknowledge its justice."
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
hubbubnounUS /ˈhʌbəb/
loud confused noise from many sources
From this reading Those words were the first that were distinctly audible above the hubbub and din prevailing in the courtyard of the Spaniards' new encampment.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED._ "General, I have disobeyed your orders, and I accept my punishment, and acknowledge its justice."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Those words were the first that were distinctly audible above the hubbub and din prevailing in the courtyard of the Spaniards' new encampment.
incredibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkredəbəl/
beyond belief or understanding
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED._ "General, I have disobeyed your orders, and I accept my punishment, and acknowledge its justice."
the quality of being just or fair
From this reading _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED._ "General, I have disobeyed your orders, and I accept my punishment, and acknowledge its justice."
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED._ "General, I have disobeyed your orders, and I accept my punishment, and acknowledge its justice."
immediately past
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
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 In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
luxuriantadjectiveUS /ləɡˈʒɜːriənt/
marked by complexity and richness of detail
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
MexiconounUS /ˈmeksəkoʊ/
a republic in southern North America; became independent from Spain in 1810
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED._ "General, I have disobeyed your orders, and I accept my punishment, and acknowledge its justice."
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Those words were the first that were distinctly audible above the hubbub and din prevailing in the courtyard of the Spaniards' new encampment.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Those words were the first that were distinctly audible above the hubbub and din prevailing in the courtyard of the Spaniards' new encampment.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED._ "General, I have disobeyed your orders, and I accept my punishment, and acknowledge its justice."
Orizabanoun
a city of east central Mexico (west of Veracruz); a popular resort
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
penetratingadjectiveUS /ˈpenətreɪtɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
prevailingadjectiveUS /prɪˈveɪlɪŋ/
most frequent or common
From this reading Those words were the first that were distinctly audible above the hubbub and din prevailing in the courtyard of the Spaniards' new encampment.
the act of punishing
From this reading _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED._ "General, I have disobeyed your orders, and I accept my punishment, and acknowledge its justice."
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
singularlyadverbUS /ˈsɪŋɡjələrli/
in a singular manner or to a singular degree
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
snow-crown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
SpaniardsnounUS /ˈspænjərdz/
plural of “spaniard” — a native or inhabitant of Spain
From this reading Those words were the first that were distinctly audible above the hubbub and din prevailing in the courtyard of the Spaniards' new encampment.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
steel-blue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
not in physical motion
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
summitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Those words were the first that were distinctly audible above the hubbub and din prevailing in the courtyard of the Spaniards' new encampment.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Those words were the first that were distinctly audible above the hubbub and din prevailing in the courtyard of the Spaniards' new encampment.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Those words were the first that were distinctly audible above the hubbub and din prevailing in the courtyard of the Spaniards' new encampment.
threadverbUS /θred/
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED._ "General, I have disobeyed your orders, and I accept my punishment, and acknowledge its justice."
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED._ "General, I have disobeyed your orders, and I accept my punishment, and acknowledge its justice."
toweredverbUS /ˈtaʊərd/
past form of “tower” — appear very large or occupy a commanding position
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
being of use or service
From this reading _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED._ "General, I have disobeyed your orders, and I accept my punishment, and acknowledge its justice."
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading But they were spoken by a singularly penetrating voice, and in cold, calm tones that had an almost incredible power of making themselves heard.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Those words were the first that were distinctly audible above the hubbub and din prevailing in the courtyard of the Spaniards' new encampment.
in the company of; together with
From this reading During the last half-hour the moon had dispelled the darkness of night, and was shining in a steel-blue, cloudless sky, with a brilliancy at least equal to the light of many a northern day.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Those words were the first that were distinctly audible above the hubbub and din prevailing in the courtyard of the Spaniards' new encampment.
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading In the foreground glittered the waters of the great Gulf of Mexico; to the left the silver thread of a river wound in and out amidst a country luxuriant and fertile as a garden; the narrow streets of the city lay at their feet; above them still gloomed and glowed, like some evil eye, that fire on the summit of the great temple, and over all, away in the distant background, towered the 'everlasting hills' and the snow-crown of Citlaltepelt or Orizaba.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading _TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED._ "General, I have disobeyed your orders, and I accept my punishment, and acknowledge its justice."
