used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SMOKE BY DAY AND FIRE BY NIGHT The peaceful village was transformed into a scene of tumult.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The frightened children and the timid women, running about the streets, reminded Curtis of the sudden motherward flurry of chickens, at the shadow of the swooping hawk.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading He was left alone in the deserted inn.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An invisible thundercloud seemed hovering in the clear sky.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SMOKE BY DAY AND FIRE BY NIGHT The peaceful village was transformed into a scene of tumult.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The frightened children and the timid women, running about the streets, reminded Curtis of the sudden motherward flurry of chickens, at the shadow of the swooping hawk.
a long seat for more than one person
From this reading He dragged a bench to the open door and sat down.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading SMOKE BY DAY AND FIRE BY NIGHT The peaceful village was transformed into a scene of tumult.
chickensnounUS /ˈtʃɪkənz/
plural of “chicken” — the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading The frightened children and the timid women, running about the streets, reminded Curtis of the sudden motherward flurry of chickens, at the shadow of the swooping hawk.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The frightened children and the timid women, running about the streets, reminded Curtis of the sudden motherward flurry of chickens, at the shadow of the swooping hawk.
rid of obstructions
From this reading An invisible thundercloud seemed hovering in the clear sky.
CurtisnounUS /ˈkɜːrtəs/
English botanical writer and publisher (1746-1799)
From this reading The frightened children and the timid women, running about the streets, reminded Curtis of the sudden motherward flurry of chickens, at the shadow of the swooping hawk.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading SMOKE BY DAY AND FIRE BY NIGHT The peaceful village was transformed into a scene of tumult.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading He was left alone in the deserted inn.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He dragged a bench to the open door and sat down.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He dragged a bench to the open door and sat down.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading He dragged a bench to the open door and sat down.
start firing a weapon
From this reading SMOKE BY DAY AND FIRE BY NIGHT The peaceful village was transformed into a scene of tumult.
flurrynounUS /ˈflɜːri/
a rapid active commotion
From this reading The frightened children and the timid women, running about the streets, reminded Curtis of the sudden motherward flurry of chickens, at the shadow of the swooping hawk.
made afraid
From this reading The frightened children and the timid women, running about the streets, reminded Curtis of the sudden motherward flurry of chickens, at the shadow of the swooping hawk.
hawknounUS /hɔːk/
diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
From this reading The frightened children and the timid women, running about the streets, reminded Curtis of the sudden motherward flurry of chickens, at the shadow of the swooping hawk.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was left alone in the deserted inn.
hoveringverbUS /ˈhʌvərɪŋ/
-ing form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
From this reading An invisible thundercloud seemed hovering in the clear sky.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading An invisible thundercloud seemed hovering in the clear sky.
a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
From this reading He was left alone in the deserted inn.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading SMOKE BY DAY AND FIRE BY NIGHT The peaceful village was transformed into a scene of tumult.
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading An invisible thundercloud seemed hovering in the clear sky.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading He was left alone in the deserted inn.
motherward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The frightened children and the timid women, running about the streets, reminded Curtis of the sudden motherward flurry of chickens, at the shadow of the swooping hawk.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading SMOKE BY DAY AND FIRE BY NIGHT The peaceful village was transformed into a scene of tumult.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SMOKE BY DAY AND FIRE BY NIGHT The peaceful village was transformed into a scene of tumult.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He dragged a bench to the open door and sat down.
peacefuladjectiveUS /ˈpiːsfəl/
not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
From this reading SMOKE BY DAY AND FIRE BY NIGHT The peaceful village was transformed into a scene of tumult.
past form of “remind” — put in the mind of someone
From this reading The frightened children and the timid women, running about the streets, reminded Curtis of the sudden motherward flurry of chickens, at the shadow of the swooping hawk.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading The frightened children and the timid women, running about the streets, reminded Curtis of the sudden motherward flurry of chickens, at the shadow of the swooping hawk.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He dragged a bench to the open door and sat down.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading SMOKE BY DAY AND FIRE BY NIGHT The peaceful village was transformed into a scene of tumult.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading An invisible thundercloud seemed hovering in the clear sky.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading The frightened children and the timid women, running about the streets, reminded Curtis of the sudden motherward flurry of chickens, at the shadow of the swooping hawk.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading An invisible thundercloud seemed hovering in the clear sky.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading SMOKE BY DAY AND FIRE BY NIGHT The peaceful village was transformed into a scene of tumult.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The frightened children and the timid women, running about the streets, reminded Curtis of the sudden motherward flurry of chickens, at the shadow of the swooping hawk.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading The frightened children and the timid women, running about the streets, reminded Curtis of the sudden motherward flurry of chickens, at the shadow of the swooping hawk.
swoopingverbUS /ˈswuːpɪŋ/
-ing form of “swoop” — move down on as if in an attack
From this reading The frightened children and the timid women, running about the streets, reminded Curtis of the sudden motherward flurry of chickens, at the shadow of the swooping hawk.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SMOKE BY DAY AND FIRE BY NIGHT The peaceful village was transformed into a scene of tumult.
thundercloudnoun
a dark cloud of great vertical extent charged with electricity; associated with thunderstorms
From this reading An invisible thundercloud seemed hovering in the clear sky.
timidadjectiveUS /ˈtɪmɪd/
showing fear and lack of confidence
From this reading The frightened children and the timid women, running about the streets, reminded Curtis of the sudden motherward flurry of chickens, at the shadow of the swooping hawk.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He dragged a bench to the open door and sat down.
transformedadjectiveUS /trænˈsfɔːrmd/
given a completely different form or appearance
From this reading SMOKE BY DAY AND FIRE BY NIGHT The peaceful village was transformed into a scene of tumult.
tumultnounUS /ˈtuːməlt/
a state of commotion and noise and confusion
From this reading SMOKE BY DAY AND FIRE BY NIGHT The peaceful village was transformed into a scene of tumult.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading SMOKE BY DAY AND FIRE BY NIGHT The peaceful village was transformed into a scene of tumult.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SMOKE BY DAY AND FIRE BY NIGHT The peaceful village was transformed into a scene of tumult.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The frightened children and the timid women, running about the streets, reminded Curtis of the sudden motherward flurry of chickens, at the shadow of the swooping hawk.
