used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
Alan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
(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 The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
amethystnounUS /ˈæmɪθɪst/
a transparent purple variety of quartz; used as a gemstone
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
azurenounUS /ˈæʒər/
a light shade of blue
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The day had been cloudless since sunrise.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading An immense number of birds congregated from every quarter.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
make calm or still
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
cloudlessadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdləs/
free from clouds
From this reading The day had been cloudless since sunrise.
congregatedverbUS /ˈkɑːŋɡrɪɡeɪtɪd/
past form of “congregate” — come together, usually for a purpose
From this reading An immense number of birds congregated from every quarter.
cormorantsnounUS /ˈkɔːrmərənts/
plural of “cormorant” — large voracious dark-colored long-necked seabird with a distensible pouch for holding fish; used in Asia to catch fish
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
dartedverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪd/
past form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The day had been cloudless since sunrise.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
diversadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪvərz/
many and different
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
elevationnounUS /ˌeləˈveɪʃən/
the event of something being raised upward
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
divisible by two
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading An immense number of birds congregated from every quarter.
to or in any or all places
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
expandedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspændəd/
increased in extent or size or bulk or scope
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
failsverbUS /feɪlz/
third-person singular of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading An immense number of birds congregated from every quarter.
fugitivenounUS /ˈfjuːdʒətɪv/
someone who flees from an uncongenial situation
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
Guillemots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The day had been cloudless since sunrise.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
immeasurableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmeʒəræbəl/
impossible to measure
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading An immense number of birds congregated from every quarter.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
insensiblyadverb
in a numb manner; without feeling
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
islesnounUS /aɪlz/
plural of “isle” — a small island
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
lapseverbUS /læps/
pass into a specified state or condition
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
league-long
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
held up in the air
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
listlessadjectiveUS /ˈlɪstləs/
lacking zest or vivacity
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
moorverbUS /mʊr/
secure in or as if in a berth or dock
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
not any; not one
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading An immense number of birds congregated from every quarter.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
petalnounUS /ˈpetəl/
part of the perianth that is usually brightly colored
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
puffinsnounUS /ˈpʌfɪnz/
plural of “puffin” — any of two genera of northern seabirds having short necks and brightly colored compressed bills
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
purplesnounUS /ˈpɜːrpəlz/
plural of “purple” — a purple color or pigment
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
one of four equal parts
From this reading An immense number of birds congregated from every quarter.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
Rona
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
except for; apart from
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The day had been cloudless since sunrise.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
skuas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
slopesnounUS /sloʊps/
plural of “slope” — an elevated geological formation
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
sunrisenounUS /ˈsʌnraɪz/
the first light of day
From this reading The day had been cloudless since sunrise.
suspendedadjectiveUS /səˈspendɪd/
(of undissolved particles in a fluid) supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy and without apparent attachment
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
suspirationnoun
an utterance made by exhaling audibly
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
swamverbUS /swæm/
inflected form of “swim” — travel through water
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
unbrokenadjectiveUS /ənˈbroʊkən/
marked by continuous or uninterrupted extension in space or time or sequence
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
weednounUS /wiːd/
any plant that crowds out cultivated plants
From this reading The immeasurable range of ocean expanded like the single petal of an azure flower; all of one unbroken blue save for the shadows of the scattered isles and for the fugitive amethyst where floating weed suspended.
in or at the place that
From this reading AT THE EDGE OF THE SHADOW In the hour that this terror came upon him Alan was alone upon the high slopes of Rona, where the grass fails and the moor purples at an elevation of close on a thousand feet above the sea.
belonging to which person
From this reading Guillemots and skuas and puffins, cormorants and northern divers, everywhere darted, swam, or slept upon the listless sea, whose deep suspiration no more than lifted a league-long calm here and there, to lapse insensibly, even as it rose.
