used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The tide reached its full, shortly after two o'clock, and then began to ebb.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The tide reached its full, shortly after two o'clock, and then began to ebb.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Seemingly it partook of a miraculous quality to-night--as if winds had been suddenly stilled by a magician's art.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Seemingly it partook of a miraculous quality to-night--as if winds had been suddenly stilled by a magician's art.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The tide reached its full, shortly after two o'clock, and then began to ebb.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The water was of course flowing out between the crevices of the rock wall, yet there was no sense of motion.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Seemingly it partook of a miraculous quality to-night--as if winds had been suddenly stilled by a magician's art.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The water was of course flowing out between the crevices of the rock wall, yet there was no sense of motion.
craggyadjectiveUS /ˈkræɡi/
having hills and crags
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
crevicesnounUS /ˈkrevəsɪz/
plural of “crevice” — a long narrow depression in a surface
From this reading The water was of course flowing out between the crevices of the rock wall, yet there was no sense of motion.
ebbverbUS /eb/
flow back or recede
From this reading The tide reached its full, shortly after two o'clock, and then began to ebb.
flowingnounUS /ˈfloʊɪŋ/
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading The water was of course flowing out between the crevices of the rock wall, yet there was no sense of motion.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The tide reached its full, shortly after two o'clock, and then began to ebb.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Seemingly it partook of a miraculous quality to-night--as if winds had been suddenly stilled by a magician's art.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The tide reached its full, shortly after two o'clock, and then began to ebb.
lagoonnounUS /ləˈɡuːn/
a body of water cut off from a larger body by a reef of sand or coral
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
lappedverbUS /læpt/
inflected form of “lap” — lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
magician's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seemingly it partook of a miraculous quality to-night--as if winds had been suddenly stilled by a magician's art.
marginnounUS /ˈmɑːrdʒən/
the boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
miraculousadjectiveUS /mərˈækjələs/
being or having the character of a miracle
From this reading Seemingly it partook of a miraculous quality to-night--as if winds had been suddenly stilled by a magician's art.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading The water was of course flowing out between the crevices of the rock wall, yet there was no sense of motion.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
not any; not one
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading The tide reached its full, shortly after two o'clock, and then began to ebb.
something you have to do
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
on one occasion
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
partook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seemingly it partook of a miraculous quality to-night--as if winds had been suddenly stilled by a magician's art.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading Seemingly it partook of a miraculous quality to-night--as if winds had been suddenly stilled by a magician's art.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The tide reached its full, shortly after two o'clock, and then began to ebb.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The water was of course flowing out between the crevices of the rock wall, yet there was no sense of motion.
Identical; not different.
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
SeeminglyadverbUS /ˈsiːmɪŋli/
from appearances alone
From this reading Seemingly it partook of a miraculous quality to-night--as if winds had been suddenly stilled by a magician's art.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading The water was of course flowing out between the crevices of the rock wall, yet there was no sense of motion.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
for a short time
From this reading The tide reached its full, shortly after two o'clock, and then began to ebb.
smoothedadjectiveUS /smuːðd/
made smooth by ironing
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
stilledverbUS /stɪld/
past form of “still” — make calm or still
From this reading Seemingly it partook of a miraculous quality to-night--as if winds had been suddenly stilled by a magician's art.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Seemingly it partook of a miraculous quality to-night--as if winds had been suddenly stilled by a magician's art.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The tide reached its full, shortly after two o'clock, and then began to ebb.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The tide reached its full, shortly after two o'clock, and then began to ebb.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The water was of course flowing out between the crevices of the rock wall, yet there was no sense of motion.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading The tide reached its full, shortly after two o'clock, and then began to ebb.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The tide reached its full, shortly after two o'clock, and then began to ebb.
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
transformationnounUS /ˌtrænsfərˈmeɪʃən/
a qualitative change
From this reading I had seen the same transformation on several previous occasions, but to-night it seemed to get hold of me as never before.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The tide reached its full, shortly after two o'clock, and then began to ebb.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading The water was of course flowing out between the crevices of the rock wall, yet there was no sense of motion.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The water was of course flowing out between the crevices of the rock wall, yet there was no sense of motion.
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 Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading Almost at once the little waves of the lagoon smoothed out, they lapped no more against the craggy margin, and the water lay like a sheet of gray glass.
plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Seemingly it partook of a miraculous quality to-night--as if winds had been suddenly stilled by a magician's art.
but in spite of that
From this reading The water was of course flowing out between the crevices of the rock wall, yet there was no sense of motion.
