used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Thunder rolled and bellowed across the night sky, mounting to a deafening crescendo.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Thunder rolled and bellowed across the night sky, mounting to a deafening crescendo.
anew
From this reading And hardly had its echoes ebbed than the dull explosions came again, and another rocket-ship took off in the unending Marslift.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Thunder rolled and bellowed across the night sky, mounting to a deafening crescendo.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading And hardly had its echoes ebbed than the dull explosions came again, and another rocket-ship took off in the unending Marslift.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He turned back to Martha, as she whispered to him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He turned back to Martha, as she whispered to him.
bellowedverbUS /ˈbeloʊd/
past form of “bellow” — shout loudly and without restraint
From this reading Thunder rolled and bellowed across the night sky, mounting to a deafening crescendo.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Up into the starry heavens rose a great black bulk, climbing starward on a column of fading fire.
bulknounUS /bʌlk/
the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part
From this reading Up into the starry heavens rose a great black bulk, climbing starward on a column of fading fire.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading And hardly had its echoes ebbed than the dull explosions came again, and another rocket-ship took off in the unending Marslift.
climbingnounUS /ˈklaɪmɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading Up into the starry heavens rose a great black bulk, climbing starward on a column of fading fire.
columnnounUS /ˈkɑːləm/
a line of units following one after another
From this reading Up into the starry heavens rose a great black bulk, climbing starward on a column of fading fire.
crescendonounUS /krɪˈʃendoʊ/
(music) a gradual increase in loudness
From this reading Thunder rolled and bellowed across the night sky, mounting to a deafening crescendo.
CrouchingverbUS /ˈkraʊtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
deafeningadjectiveUS /ˈdefənɪŋ/
loud enough to cause (temporary) hearing loss
From this reading Thunder rolled and bellowed across the night sky, mounting to a deafening crescendo.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading And hardly had its echoes ebbed than the dull explosions came again, and another rocket-ship took off in the unending Marslift.
ebbedverbUS /ˈebəd/
past form of “ebb” — flow back or recede
From this reading And hardly had its echoes ebbed than the dull explosions came again, and another rocket-ship took off in the unending Marslift.
echoesnounUS /ˈekoʊz/
plural of “echo” — the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves
From this reading And hardly had its echoes ebbed than the dull explosions came again, and another rocket-ship took off in the unending Marslift.
explosionsnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒənz/
plural of “explosion” — a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading And hardly had its echoes ebbed than the dull explosions came again, and another rocket-ship took off in the unending Marslift.
fadingnounUS /ˈfeɪdɪŋ/
weakening in force or intensity
From this reading Up into the starry heavens rose a great black bulk, climbing starward on a column of fading fire.
fieryadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪəri/
characterized by intense emotion
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Up into the starry heavens rose a great black bulk, climbing starward on a column of fading fire.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Up into the starry heavens rose a great black bulk, climbing starward on a column of fading fire.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And hardly had its echoes ebbed than the dull explosions came again, and another rocket-ship took off in the unending Marslift.
HarborverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
only a very short time before
From this reading And hardly had its echoes ebbed than the dull explosions came again, and another rocket-ship took off in the unending Marslift.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He turned back to Martha, as she whispered to him.
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading Up into the starry heavens rose a great black bulk, climbing starward on a column of fading fire.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He turned back to Martha, as she whispered to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And hardly had its echoes ebbed than the dull explosions came again, and another rocket-ship took off in the unending Marslift.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Up into the starry heavens rose a great black bulk, climbing starward on a column of fading fire.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading And hardly had its echoes ebbed than the dull explosions came again, and another rocket-ship took off in the unending Marslift.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
Marslift
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And hardly had its echoes ebbed than the dull explosions came again, and another rocket-ship took off in the unending Marslift.
Martha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
mountingnounUS /ˈmaʊntɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading Thunder rolled and bellowed across the night sky, mounting to a deafening crescendo.
murmuringnounUS /ˈmɜːrmərɪŋ/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Thunder rolled and bellowed across the night sky, mounting to a deafening crescendo.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Up into the starry heavens rose a great black bulk, climbing starward on a column of fading fire.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading And hardly had its echoes ebbed than the dull explosions came again, and another rocket-ship took off in the unending Marslift.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Up into the starry heavens rose a great black bulk, climbing starward on a column of fading fire.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
piernounUS /pɪr/
a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
having a point
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
rocket-ship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And hardly had its echoes ebbed than the dull explosions came again, and another rocket-ship took off in the unending Marslift.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading Thunder rolled and bellowed across the night sky, mounting to a deafening crescendo.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Up into the starry heavens rose a great black bulk, climbing starward on a column of fading fire.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He turned back to Martha, as she whispered to him.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Thunder rolled and bellowed across the night sky, mounting to a deafening crescendo.
starryadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːriː/
abounding with or resembling stars
From this reading Up into the starry heavens rose a great black bulk, climbing starward on a column of fading fire.
starward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up into the starry heavens rose a great black bulk, climbing starward on a column of fading fire.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading And hardly had its echoes ebbed than the dull explosions came again, and another rocket-ship took off in the unending Marslift.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Thunder rolled and bellowed across the night sky, mounting to a deafening crescendo.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading Thunder rolled and bellowed across the night sky, mounting to a deafening crescendo.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Thunder rolled and bellowed across the night sky, mounting to a deafening crescendo.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading And hardly had its echoes ebbed than the dull explosions came again, and another rocket-ship took off in the unending Marslift.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He turned back to Martha, as she whispered to him.
unendingadjectiveUS /əˈnendɪŋ/
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading And hardly had its echoes ebbed than the dull explosions came again, and another rocket-ship took off in the unending Marslift.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Up into the starry heavens rose a great black bulk, climbing starward on a column of fading fire.
the topmost one of two
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
vaguenessnounUS /ˈveɪɡnɪs/
unclearness by virtue of being poorly expressed or not coherent in meaning
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
WalesnounUS /weɪlz/
one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; during Roman times the region was known as Cambria
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading He turned back to Martha, as she whispered to him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Crouching with Martha in the darkness of an old pier, with the murmuring black vagueness of the Upper Harbor in front of them, Wales looked over his shoulder at the fiery finger that pointed out to man's new home in the sky.
