Chapter IV · Why?

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

(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 It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

aroused or activated

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Some dark bird, awakened from his sleep, rose in their path to go swooping away without a sound.

plural of “ax” — an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading Some dark bird, awakened from his sleep, rose in their path to go swooping away without a sound.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

plural of “campfire” — a small outdoor fire for warmth or cooking (as at a camp)

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

plural of “canoe” — small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

plural of “cast” — the actors in a play

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

anything that covers or conceals

From this reading Florence felt something of this as the mystery lady donned a cloak of somber hue, then pushed a dark rowboat into the water.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

having the place or position changed

From this reading A faint knock of oarlock was the only sound that disturbed the grave-like stillness.

inflected form of “don” — put clothing on one's body

From this reading Florence felt something of this as the mystery lady donned a cloak of somber hue, then pushed a dark rowboat into the water.

plural of “echo” — the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc

From this reading A faint knock of oarlock was the only sound that disturbed the grave-like stillness.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading Florence felt something of this as the mystery lady donned a cloak of somber hue, then pushed a dark rowboat into the water.

a city in central Italy on the Arno; provincial capital of Tuscany; center of the Italian Renaissance from 14th to 16th centuries

From this reading Florence felt something of this as the mystery lady donned a cloak of somber hue, then pushed a dark rowboat into the water.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Some dark bird, awakened from his sleep, rose in their path to go swooping away without a sound.

plural of “generation” — all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

past form of “glide” — move smoothly and effortlessly

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Some dark bird, awakened from his sleep, rose in their path to go swooping away without a sound.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A faint knock of oarlock was the only sound that disturbed the grave-like stillness.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Some dark bird, awakened from his sleep, rose in their path to go swooping away without a sound.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength

From this reading Florence felt something of this as the mystery lady donned a cloak of somber hue, then pushed a dark rowboat into the water.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

impossible to resist; overpowering

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

deliver a sharp blow or push

From this reading A faint knock of oarlock was the only sound that disturbed the grave-like stillness.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading Florence felt something of this as the mystery lady donned a cloak of somber hue, then pushed a dark rowboat into the water.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

the state of being alone in solitary isolation

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

something that is lost

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

feel sadness

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

From this reading Florence felt something of this as the mystery lady donned a cloak of somber hue, then pushed a dark rowboat into the water.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

a holder attached to the gunwale of a boat that holds the oar in place and acts as a fulcrum for rowing

From this reading A faint knock of oarlock was the only sound that disturbed the grave-like stillness.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

and nothing more

From this reading A faint knock of oarlock was the only sound that disturbed the grave-like stillness.

a course of conduct

From this reading Some dark bird, awakened from his sleep, rose in their path to go swooping away without a sound.

past form of “push” — move with force

From this reading Florence felt something of this as the mystery lady donned a cloak of somber hue, then pushed a dark rowboat into the water.

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

a small wave on the surface of a liquid

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading Some dark bird, awakened from his sleep, rose in their path to go swooping away without a sound.

a small boat of shallow draft with cross thwarts for seats and rowlocks for oars with which it is propelled

From this reading Florence felt something of this as the mystery lady donned a cloak of somber hue, then pushed a dark rowboat into the water.

emotions experienced when not in a state of well-being

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

without speaking

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading Some dark bird, awakened from his sleep, rose in their path to go swooping away without a sound.

lacking brightness or color; dull

From this reading Florence felt something of this as the mystery lady donned a cloak of somber hue, then pushed a dark rowboat into the water.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Some dark bird, awakened from his sleep, rose in their path to go swooping away without a sound.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Florence felt something of this as the mystery lady donned a cloak of somber hue, then pushed a dark rowboat into the water.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading A faint knock of oarlock was the only sound that disturbed the grave-like stillness.

orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

(poetic) tranquil silence

From this reading A faint knock of oarlock was the only sound that disturbed the grave-like stillness.

-ing form of “swoop” — move down on as if in an attack

From this reading Some dark bird, awakened from his sleep, rose in their path to go swooping away without a sound.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Florence felt something of this as the mystery lady donned a cloak of somber hue, then pushed a dark rowboat into the water.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

a surrounding or nearby region

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading A faint knock of oarlock was the only sound that disturbed the grave-like stillness.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

United States actress and singer (1896-1977)

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

which person or people

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

belonging to which person

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Some dark bird, awakened from his sleep, rose in their path to go swooping away without a sound.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading There is that about the woods and water at night which casts upon one a spell of irresistible loneliness and sadness.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading It is as if all the generations of those who have lived and died in the vicinity, whose canoes have glided silently through rippling waters, whose axes have awakened echoes and whose campfires have brought dark shadows into being, return at this hour to mourn their loss of a beautiful world.