used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
quickly and without warning
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
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 transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
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 The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
without doubt or question
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
CRATERnounUS /ˈkreɪtər/
a bowl-shaped geological formation at the top of a volcano
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
creepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading The soft moonlight, in streaks and splashes, and the long, creeping shadows made the floor of the crater seem weird and unreal.
crouchingverbUS /ˈkraʊtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
divedverbUS /daɪvd/
past form of “dive” — drop steeply
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
fadesnounUS /feɪdz/
plural of “fade” — a golf shot that curves to the right for a right-handed golfer
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
fascinationnounUS /ˌfæsəˈneɪʃən/
the state of being intensely interested (as by awe or terror)
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The soft moonlight, in streaks and splashes, and the long, creeping shadows made the floor of the crater seem weird and unreal.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
frolicnounUS /ˈfrɑːlɪk/
gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
jewelsnounUS /ˈdʒuːəlz/
plural of “jewel” — a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
ledgenounUS /ledʒ/
a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The soft moonlight, in streaks and splashes, and the long, creeping shadows made the floor of the crater seem weird and unreal.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The soft moonlight, in streaks and splashes, and the long, creeping shadows made the floor of the crater seem weird and unreal.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
the force of workers available
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
mirror-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
become covered with mist
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
the light of the Moon
From this reading The soft moonlight, in streaks and splashes, and the long, creeping shadows made the floor of the crater seem weird and unreal.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
nocturnaladjectiveUS /nɑːkˈtɜːrnəl/
belonging to or active during the night
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
obliteratesverbUS /əˈblɪtəreɪts/
third-person singular of “obliterate” — mark for deletion, rub off, or erase
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
poolsnounUS /puːlz/
plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
radiancenounUS /ˈreɪdiːəns/
the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
rimnounUS /rɪm/
the shape of a raised edge of a more or less circular object
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
ripplesnounUS /ˈrɪpəlz/
plural of “ripple” — a small wave on the surface of a liquid
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
scurryingadjectiveUS /ˈskɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The soft moonlight, in streaks and splashes, and the long, creeping shadows made the floor of the crater seem weird and unreal.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The soft moonlight, in streaks and splashes, and the long, creeping shadows made the floor of the crater seem weird and unreal.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
silveryadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlvəri/
resembling or reminiscent of silver
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The soft moonlight, in streaks and splashes, and the long, creeping shadows made the floor of the crater seem weird and unreal.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
sparklingadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːrklɪŋ/
shining with brilliant points of light like stars
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
splashesnounUS /ˈsplæʃɪz/
plural of “splash” — the sound like water splashing
From this reading The soft moonlight, in streaks and splashes, and the long, creeping shadows made the floor of the crater seem weird and unreal.
successive (without a break)
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
streaknounUS /striːk/
an unbroken series of events
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
streaksnounUS /striːks/
plural of “streak” — an unbroken series of events
From this reading The soft moonlight, in streaks and splashes, and the long, creeping shadows made the floor of the crater seem weird and unreal.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
swamverbUS /swæm/
inflected form of “swim” — travel through water
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
swoopsnounUS /swuːps/
plural of “swoop” — (music) rapid sliding up or down the musical scale
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
transformationnounUS /ˌtrænsfərˈmeɪʃən/
a qualitative change
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
tropicsnounUS /ˈtrɑːpɪks/
the part of the Earth's surface between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn; characterized by a hot climate
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
unrealadjectiveUS /ənˈriːl/
lacking in reality or substance or genuineness; not corresponding to acknowledged facts or criteria
From this reading The soft moonlight, in streaks and splashes, and the long, creeping shadows made the floor of the crater seem weird and unreal.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The transformation from day to night was sudden, for in the tropics the light fades abruptly, and darkness swoops upon the land almost as a black cloud scurrying across the face of the sun obliterates the brilliant radiance in a short space of time.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
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 A streak of silvery light lay across the smooth surface of the lake, and as the two men, crouching on the narrow ledge, gazed in fascination at it, the mirror-like water was broken by ripples that appeared here and there like little pools and lines of sparkling jewels.
weirdadjectiveUS /wɪrd/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading The soft moonlight, in streaks and splashes, and the long, creeping shadows made the floor of the crater seem weird and unreal.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
at the time that
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The creatures that were coming out for their nocturnal frolic, but which could not be clearly distinguished, swam in circles or straight lines and dived with great splashes.
yellowishadjectiveUS /ˈjeloʊɪʃ/
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CRATER When the sun plunged into the masses of yellowish mist that clung to the rim of the crater a bright moon was already high in the heavens.
