used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A month passed.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Its light was still visible on the roof above Yosef and Gustav.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The evening was fair, autumnal; the sun was quenching slowly on the towers of Kieff and on the distant grave-mounds of the steppe.
autumnaladjectiveUS /ɔːˈtʌmnəl/
of or characteristic of or occurring in autumn
From this reading The evening was fair, autumnal; the sun was quenching slowly on the towers of Kieff and on the distant grave-mounds of the steppe.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Gustav had returned from the city not long before; he was suffering and pale, he panted more than usual.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading Both were bent over their work and, sitting in silence, used the last rays of evening with eagerness.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both were bent over their work and, sitting in silence, used the last rays of evening with eagerness.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Gustav had returned from the city not long before; he was suffering and pale, he panted more than usual.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading The evening was fair, autumnal; the sun was quenching slowly on the towers of Kieff and on the distant grave-mounds of the steppe.
eagernessnounUS /ˈiːɡərnəs/
a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something
From this reading Both were bent over their work and, sitting in silence, used the last rays of evening with eagerness.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The evening was fair, autumnal; the sun was quenching slowly on the towers of Kieff and on the distant grave-mounds of the steppe.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading The evening was fair, autumnal; the sun was quenching slowly on the towers of Kieff and on the distant grave-mounds of the steppe.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Gustav had returned from the city not long before; he was suffering and pale, he panted more than usual.
grave-mounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The evening was fair, autumnal; the sun was quenching slowly on the towers of Kieff and on the distant grave-mounds of the steppe.
Gustav
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its light was still visible on the roof above Yosef and Gustav.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Gustav had returned from the city not long before; he was suffering and pale, he panted more than usual.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Gustav had returned from the city not long before; he was suffering and pale, he panted more than usual.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Both were bent over their work and, sitting in silence, used the last rays of evening with eagerness.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its light was still visible on the roof above Yosef and Gustav.
Kieff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The evening was fair, autumnal; the sun was quenching slowly on the towers of Kieff and on the distant grave-mounds of the steppe.
immediately past
From this reading Both were bent over their work and, sitting in silence, used the last rays of evening with eagerness.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Its light was still visible on the roof above Yosef and Gustav.
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 Gustav had returned from the city not long before; he was suffering and pale, he panted more than usual.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading A month passed.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Gustav had returned from the city not long before; he was suffering and pale, he panted more than usual.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Gustav had returned from the city not long before; he was suffering and pale, he panted more than usual.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The evening was fair, autumnal; the sun was quenching slowly on the towers of Kieff and on the distant grave-mounds of the steppe.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The evening was fair, autumnal; the sun was quenching slowly on the towers of Kieff and on the distant grave-mounds of the steppe.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Both were bent over their work and, sitting in silence, used the last rays of evening with eagerness.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading Gustav had returned from the city not long before; he was suffering and pale, he panted more than usual.
pantedverbUS /ˈpæntɪd/
past form of “pant” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading Gustav had returned from the city not long before; he was suffering and pale, he panted more than usual.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading A month passed.
quenchingnounUS /ˈkwentʃɪŋ/
the act of extinguishing; causing to stop burning
From this reading The evening was fair, autumnal; the sun was quenching slowly on the towers of Kieff and on the distant grave-mounds of the steppe.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading Both were bent over their work and, sitting in silence, used the last rays of evening with eagerness.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Gustav had returned from the city not long before; he was suffering and pale, he panted more than usual.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading Its light was still visible on the roof above Yosef and Gustav.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Both were bent over their work and, sitting in silence, used the last rays of evening with eagerness.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Both were bent over their work and, sitting in silence, used the last rays of evening with eagerness.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The evening was fair, autumnal; the sun was quenching slowly on the towers of Kieff and on the distant grave-mounds of the steppe.
steppenounUS /step/
extensive plain without trees (associated with eastern Russia and Siberia)
From this reading The evening was fair, autumnal; the sun was quenching slowly on the towers of Kieff and on the distant grave-mounds of the steppe.
not in physical motion
From this reading Its light was still visible on the roof above Yosef and Gustav.
a state of acute pain
From this reading Gustav had returned from the city not long before; he was suffering and pale, he panted more than usual.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The evening was fair, autumnal; the sun was quenching slowly on the towers of Kieff and on the distant grave-mounds of the steppe.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Gustav had returned from the city not long before; he was suffering and pale, he panted more than usual.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The evening was fair, autumnal; the sun was quenching slowly on the towers of Kieff and on the distant grave-mounds of the steppe.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Both were bent over their work and, sitting in silence, used the last rays of evening with eagerness.
towersnounUS /ˈtaʊərz/
plural of “tower” — a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading The evening was fair, autumnal; the sun was quenching slowly on the towers of Kieff and on the distant grave-mounds of the steppe.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Both were bent over their work and, sitting in silence, used the last rays of evening with eagerness.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Gustav had returned from the city not long before; he was suffering and pale, he panted more than usual.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading Its light was still visible on the roof above Yosef and Gustav.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The evening was fair, autumnal; the sun was quenching slowly on the towers of Kieff and on the distant grave-mounds of the steppe.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Both were bent over their work and, sitting in silence, used the last rays of evening with eagerness.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Both were bent over their work and, sitting in silence, used the last rays of evening with eagerness.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Both were bent over their work and, sitting in silence, used the last rays of evening with eagerness.
Yosef
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its light was still visible on the roof above Yosef and Gustav.
