used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
anew
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
amphitheatrenounUS /ˈæmfəθiˈeɪtər/
a sloping gallery with seats for spectators (as in an operating room or theater)
From this reading Parallel with and immediately above the horizon spread a belt of sky filled with silvery clouds, pale as ghosts, rising one over the other, tier on tier, like the circles of some celestial amphitheatre.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But the atmospheric surprises of such spots as Inishmaan are inexhaustible.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But the atmospheric surprises of such spots as Inishmaan are inexhaustible.
in a state of sleep
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
atmosphericadjectiveUS /ˌætməˈsferɪk/
relating to or located in the atmosphere
From this reading But the atmospheric surprises of such spots as Inishmaan are inexhaustible.
beltnounUS /belt/
endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading Parallel with and immediately above the horizon spread a belt of sky filled with silvery clouds, pale as ghosts, rising one over the other, tier on tier, like the circles of some celestial amphitheatre.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the atmospheric surprises of such spots as Inishmaan are inexhaustible.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
cabin-door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
celestialadjectiveUS /səˈlestʃəl/
of or relating to the sky
From this reading Parallel with and immediately above the horizon spread a belt of sky filled with silvery clouds, pale as ghosts, rising one over the other, tier on tier, like the circles of some celestial amphitheatre.
circlesnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəlz/
plural of “circle” — ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading Parallel with and immediately above the horizon spread a belt of sky filled with silvery clouds, pale as ghosts, rising one over the other, tier on tier, like the circles of some celestial amphitheatre.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
darkeradjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkər/
comparative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
detachverbUS /ˈdɪtætʃ/
cause to become detached or separated; take off
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Parallel with and immediately above the horizon spread a belt of sky filled with silvery clouds, pale as ghosts, rising one over the other, tier on tier, like the circles of some celestial amphitheatre.
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
fragmentsnounUS /ˈfræɡmənts/
plural of “fragment” — a piece broken off or cut off of something else
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
ghostsnounUS /ɡoʊsts/
plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading Parallel with and immediately above the horizon spread a belt of sky filled with silvery clouds, pale as ghosts, rising one over the other, tier on tier, like the circles of some celestial amphitheatre.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading Parallel with and immediately above the horizon spread a belt of sky filled with silvery clouds, pale as ghosts, rising one over the other, tier on tier, like the circles of some celestial amphitheatre.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Parallel with and immediately above the horizon spread a belt of sky filled with silvery clouds, pale as ghosts, rising one over the other, tier on tier, like the circles of some celestial amphitheatre.
inexhaustibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnɪɡˈzɔːstəbəl/
that cannot be entirely consumed or used up
From this reading But the atmospheric surprises of such spots as Inishmaan are inexhaustible.
Inishmaan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the atmospheric surprises of such spots as Inishmaan are inexhaustible.
IrelandnounUS /ˈaɪərlənd/
a republic consisting of 26 of 32 counties comprising the island of Ireland; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1921
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
the act of departing
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Parallel with and immediately above the horizon spread a belt of sky filled with silvery clouds, pale as ghosts, rising one over the other, tier on tier, like the circles of some celestial amphitheatre.
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
an old word for “no”
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But the atmospheric surprises of such spots as Inishmaan are inexhaustible.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Parallel with and immediately above the horizon spread a belt of sky filled with silvery clouds, pale as ghosts, rising one over the other, tier on tier, like the circles of some celestial amphitheatre.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
opaqueadjectiveUS /oʊˈpeɪk/
not transmitting or reflecting light or radiant energy; impenetrable to sight
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Parallel with and immediately above the horizon spread a belt of sky filled with silvery clouds, pale as ghosts, rising one over the other, tier on tier, like the circles of some celestial amphitheatre.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
ParallelnounUS /ˈperəlel/
something having the property of being analogous to something else
From this reading Parallel with and immediately above the horizon spread a belt of sky filled with silvery clouds, pale as ghosts, rising one over the other, tier on tier, like the circles of some celestial amphitheatre.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
regionnounUS /ˈriːdʒən/
the extended spatial location of something
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
reignedverbUS /reɪnd/
past form of “reign” — have sovereign power
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Parallel with and immediately above the horizon spread a belt of sky filled with silvery clouds, pale as ghosts, rising one over the other, tier on tier, like the circles of some celestial amphitheatre.
uttered with a trill
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
seeminglyadverbUS /ˈsiːmɪŋli/
from appearances alone
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
serenitynounUS /səˈren.ə.t̬i/
The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled by external storms.
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
silveryadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlvəri/
resembling or reminiscent of silver
From this reading Parallel with and immediately above the horizon spread a belt of sky filled with silvery clouds, pale as ghosts, rising one over the other, tier on tier, like the circles of some celestial amphitheatre.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Parallel with and immediately above the horizon spread a belt of sky filled with silvery clouds, pale as ghosts, rising one over the other, tier on tier, like the circles of some celestial amphitheatre.
spotsnounUS /spɑːts/
spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens
From this reading But the atmospheric surprises of such spots as Inishmaan are inexhaustible.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading Parallel with and immediately above the horizon spread a belt of sky filled with silvery clouds, pale as ghosts, rising one over the other, tier on tier, like the circles of some celestial amphitheatre.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But the atmospheric surprises of such spots as Inishmaan are inexhaustible.
supremeadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/
final or last in your life or progress
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
surprisesnounUS /sərˈpraɪzɪz/
plural of “surprise” — the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading But the atmospheric surprises of such spots as Inishmaan are inexhaustible.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But the atmospheric surprises of such spots as Inishmaan are inexhaustible.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
tiernounUS /tiːr/
a relative position or degree of value in a graded group
From this reading Parallel with and immediately above the horizon spread a belt of sky filled with silvery clouds, pale as ghosts, rising one over the other, tier on tier, like the circles of some celestial amphitheatre.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
having passed out of existence
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
at the time that
From this reading When next morning she again opened the cabin-door, leaving Honor asleep, the rain and storm had vanished utterly, and serenity reigned supreme over everything.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The sky was such a sky as one must go to Ireland--nay, to west Ireland--to see: great rolling masses of clouds above, black or seemingly black by contrast with the pale opaque serenity beneath.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Now and then fragments of the darker region would detach themselves and go floating across this silvery portion, their shadows flung down one after the other as they went.
