used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
(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 When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nausicaa climbed into the wain, and away they sped with laughter and with song, this bright bevy of maidens.
anointedverbUS /əˈnɔɪntɪd/
past form of “anoint” — choose by or as if by divine intervention
From this reading Tired with work and play they anointed their dripping limbs with the olive oil and sat down to rest in the shade.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Then the maidens undressed and dabbled and splashed one another, and frolicked in the crystal pool.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Nausicaa climbed into the wain, and away they sped with laughter and with song, this bright bevy of maidens.
basinnounUS /ˈbeɪsən/
a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
bevynounUS /ˈbevi/
a large gathering of people of a particular type
From this reading Nausicaa climbed into the wain, and away they sped with laughter and with song, this bright bevy of maidens.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Nausicaa climbed into the wain, and away they sped with laughter and with song, this bright bevy of maidens.
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading Nausicaa climbed into the wain, and away they sped with laughter and with song, this bright bevy of maidens.
crystalnounUS /ˈkrɪstəl/
a solid formed by the solidification of a chemical and having a highly regular atomic structure
From this reading Then the maidens undressed and dabbled and splashed one another, and frolicked in the crystal pool.
dabbledadjectiveUS /ˈdæbəld/
covered with bright patches (often used in combination)
From this reading Then the maidens undressed and dabbled and splashed one another, and frolicked in the crystal pool.
daintyadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪnti/
delicately beautiful
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Tired with work and play they anointed their dripping limbs with the olive oil and sat down to rest in the shade.
drippingnounUS /ˈdrɪpɪŋ/
a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house)
From this reading Tired with work and play they anointed their dripping limbs with the olive oil and sat down to rest in the shade.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
emptiedverbUS /ˈemptid/
inflected form of “empty” — make void or empty of contents
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
frolicked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the maidens undressed and dabbled and splashed one another, and frolicked in the crystal pool.
garmentnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənt/
an article of clothing
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
gaylyadverb
in a joyous manner
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
grazeverbUS /ɡreɪz/
feed as in a meadow or pasture
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Nausicaa climbed into the wain, and away they sped with laughter and with song, this bright bevy of maidens.
the sound of laughing
From this reading Nausicaa climbed into the wain, and away they sped with laughter and with song, this bright bevy of maidens.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading Tired with work and play they anointed their dripping limbs with the olive oil and sat down to rest in the shade.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
maidensnounUS /ˈmeɪdənz/
plural of “maiden” — an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
From this reading Nausicaa climbed into the wain, and away they sped with laughter and with song, this bright bevy of maidens.
mulesnounUS /mjuːlz/
plural of “mule” — hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
Nausicaa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nausicaa climbed into the wain, and away they sped with laughter and with song, this bright bevy of maidens.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Nausicaa climbed into the wain, and away they sped with laughter and with song, this bright bevy of maidens.
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading Tired with work and play they anointed their dripping limbs with the olive oil and sat down to rest in the shade.
oliveadjectiveUS /ˈɑːləv/
of a yellow-green color similar to that of an unripe olive
From this reading Tired with work and play they anointed their dripping limbs with the olive oil and sat down to rest in the shade.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Then the maidens undressed and dabbled and splashed one another, and frolicked in the crystal pool.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
participate in games or sport
From this reading Tired with work and play they anointed their dripping limbs with the olive oil and sat down to rest in the shade.
poolnounUS /puːl/
an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading Then the maidens undressed and dabbled and splashed one another, and frolicked in the crystal pool.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Tired with work and play they anointed their dripping limbs with the olive oil and sat down to rest in the shade.
rinsed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
sandsnounUS /sændz/
the region of the shore of a lake or sea or ocean
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Tired with work and play they anointed their dripping limbs with the olive oil and sat down to rest in the shade.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading Tired with work and play they anointed their dripping limbs with the olive oil and sat down to rest in the shade.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading Nausicaa climbed into the wain, and away they sped with laughter and with song, this bright bevy of maidens.
sparkledverbUS /ˈspɑːrkəld/
past form of “sparkle” — reflect brightly
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
spedverbUS /sped/
inflected form of “speed” — move hurridly
From this reading Nausicaa climbed into the wain, and away they sped with laughter and with song, this bright bevy of maidens.
splashedadjectiveUS /splæʃt/
(of a fluid) having been propelled about in flying drops or masses
From this reading Then the maidens undressed and dabbled and splashed one another, and frolicked in the crystal pool.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
steepedverbUS /stiːpt/
past form of “steep” — devote (oneself) fully to
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
streamsnounUS /striːmz/
plural of “stream” — a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
the rays of the sun
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Nausicaa climbed into the wain, and away they sped with laughter and with song, this bright bevy of maidens.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the maidens undressed and dabbled and splashed one another, and frolicked in the crystal pool.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nausicaa climbed into the wain, and away they sped with laughter and with song, this bright bevy of maidens.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Nausicaa climbed into the wain, and away they sped with laughter and with song, this bright bevy of maidens.
TiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading Tired with work and play they anointed their dripping limbs with the olive oil and sat down to rest in the shade.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
toilverbUS /tɔɪl/
work hard
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
troddenverbUS /ˈtrɑːdən/
inflected form of “tread” — put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
undressedadjectiveUS /ənˈdrest/
of lumber or stone or hides; not finished or dressed
From this reading Then the maidens undressed and dabbled and splashed one another, and frolicked in the crystal pool.
unharnessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
wainnounUS /weɪn/
English writer (1925-1994)
From this reading Nausicaa climbed into the wain, and away they sped with laughter and with song, this bright bevy of maidens.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
at the time that
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
in or at the place that
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At length they had finished their toil; every garment had been steeped and trodden with their dainty feet, and rinsed and spread out to dry on the hot sands, which sparkled in the sunlight.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading When they reached the spot where all the falling streams emptied their waters into a wide basin, they unharnessed the mules and let them loose to graze on the plain, while all the girls set gayly to their task.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Nausicaa climbed into the wain, and away they sped with laughter and with song, this bright bevy of maidens.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Tired with work and play they anointed their dripping limbs with the olive oil and sat down to rest in the shade.
