used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading MAISIE'S NIGHT QUEST In the street of Zaandpoort, upon a certain evening, it had grown early dark.
additionaladjectiveUS /əˈdɪʃənəl/
further or added
From this reading Maisie had gone down an hour ago and barred the outer door with a stout oaken bolt, hasping the crossbar into its place as an additional precaution.
in the past
From this reading Maisie had gone down an hour ago and barred the outer door with a stout oaken bolt, hasping the crossbar into its place as an additional precaution.
aloftadverbUS /əˈlɔːft/
at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
using the voice; not silently
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
alternatingadjectiveUS /ˈɔːltərneɪtɪŋ/
(of a current) reversing direction
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
Amersfort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Maisie had gone down an hour ago and barred the outer door with a stout oaken bolt, hasping the crossbar into its place as an additional precaution.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
AnonadverbUS /ˌæˈnɔːn/
at another time
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
move towards
From this reading She would sit up, she said, till William returned from duty, and then she would be sure to hear him approach.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Maisie had gone down an hour ago and barred the outer door with a stout oaken bolt, hasping the crossbar into its place as an additional precaution.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading Maisie had gone down an hour ago and barred the outer door with a stout oaken bolt, hasping the crossbar into its place as an additional precaution.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
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 sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
boltnounUS /boʊlt/
a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading Maisie had gone down an hour ago and barred the outer door with a stout oaken bolt, hasping the crossbar into its place as an additional precaution.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading MAISIE'S NIGHT QUEST In the street of Zaandpoort, upon a certain evening, it had grown early dark.
chimneynounUS /ˈtʃɪmni/
a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
crossbarnoun
a horizontal bar that goes across something
From this reading Maisie had gone down an hour ago and barred the outer door with a stout oaken bolt, hasping the crossbar into its place as an additional precaution.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading MAISIE'S NIGHT QUEST In the street of Zaandpoort, upon a certain evening, it had grown early dark.
dashesnounUS /ˈdæʃɪz/
plural of “dash” — distinctive and stylish elegance
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Maisie had gone down an hour ago and barred the outer door with a stout oaken bolt, hasping the crossbar into its place as an additional precaution.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading She would sit up, she said, till William returned from duty, and then she would be sure to hear him approach.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading MAISIE'S NIGHT QUEST In the street of Zaandpoort, upon a certain evening, it had grown early dark.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading MAISIE'S NIGHT QUEST In the street of Zaandpoort, upon a certain evening, it had grown early dark.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
fickleadjectiveUS /ˈfɪkəl/
marked by erratic changeableness in affections or attachments
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
flawsnounUS /flɔːz/
plural of “flaw” — an imperfection in an object or machine
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She would sit up, she said, till William returned from duty, and then she would be sure to hear him approach.
gloamingnounUS /ˈɡloʊmɪŋ/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Maisie had gone down an hour ago and barred the outer door with a stout oaken bolt, hasping the crossbar into its place as an additional precaution.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading MAISIE'S NIGHT QUEST In the street of Zaandpoort, upon a certain evening, it had grown early dark.
gurly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading MAISIE'S NIGHT QUEST In the street of Zaandpoort, upon a certain evening, it had grown early dark.
hasping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maisie had gone down an hour ago and barred the outer door with a stout oaken bolt, hasping the crossbar into its place as an additional precaution.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading She would sit up, she said, till William returned from duty, and then she would be sure to hear him approach.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She would sit up, she said, till William returned from duty, and then she would be sure to hear him approach.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Maisie had gone down an hour ago and barred the outer door with a stout oaken bolt, hasping the crossbar into its place as an additional precaution.
hurlverbUS /hɜːrl/
throw forcefully
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MAISIE'S NIGHT QUEST In the street of Zaandpoort, upon a certain evening, it had grown early dark.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading MAISIE'S NIGHT QUEST In the street of Zaandpoort, upon a certain evening, it had grown early dark.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Maisie had gone down an hour ago and barred the outer door with a stout oaken bolt, hasping the crossbar into its place as an additional precaution.
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
lullsnounUS /lʌlz/
plural of “lull” — a pause during which things are calm or activities are diminished
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
Maisie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maisie had gone down an hour ago and barred the outer door with a stout oaken bolt, hasping the crossbar into its place as an additional precaution.
MAISIE'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAISIE'S NIGHT QUEST In the street of Zaandpoort, upon a certain evening, it had grown early dark.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading MAISIE'S NIGHT QUEST In the street of Zaandpoort, upon a certain evening, it had grown early dark.
oakenadjective
consisting of or made of wood of the oak tree
From this reading Maisie had gone down an hour ago and barred the outer door with a stout oaken bolt, hasping the crossbar into its place as an additional precaution.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MAISIE'S NIGHT QUEST In the street of Zaandpoort, upon a certain evening, it had grown early dark.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading Maisie had gone down an hour ago and barred the outer door with a stout oaken bolt, hasping the crossbar into its place as an additional precaution.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Maisie had gone down an hour ago and barred the outer door with a stout oaken bolt, hasping the crossbar into its place as an additional precaution.
precautionnounUS /priˈkɔːʃən/
a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.
From this reading Maisie had gone down an hour ago and barred the outer door with a stout oaken bolt, hasping the crossbar into its place as an additional precaution.
QUESTnounUS /kwest/
a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria
From this reading MAISIE'S NIGHT QUEST In the street of Zaandpoort, upon a certain evening, it had grown early dark.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading She would sit up, she said, till William returned from duty, and then she would be sure to hear him approach.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading She would sit up, she said, till William returned from duty, and then she would be sure to hear him approach.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She would sit up, she said, till William returned from duty, and then she would be sure to hear him approach.
shrieknounUS /ʃriːk/
sharp piercing cry
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
be seated
From this reading She would sit up, she said, till William returned from duty, and then she would be sure to hear him approach.
slackenedverbUS /ˈslækənd/
past form of “slacken” — become slow or slower
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
stillnesses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
dependable
From this reading Maisie had gone down an hour ago and barred the outer door with a stout oaken bolt, hasping the crossbar into its place as an additional precaution.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading MAISIE'S NIGHT QUEST In the street of Zaandpoort, upon a certain evening, it had grown early dark.
sullenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌlən/
showing a brooding ill humor
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
sultryadjectiveUS /ˈsʌltri/
sexually exciting or gratifying
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading She would sit up, she said, till William returned from duty, and then she would be sure to hear him approach.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MAISIE'S NIGHT QUEST In the street of Zaandpoort, upon a certain evening, it had grown early dark.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading She would sit up, she said, till William returned from duty, and then she would be sure to hear him approach.
up to a particular time
From this reading She would sit up, she said, till William returned from duty, and then she would be sure to hear him approach.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading MAISIE'S NIGHT QUEST In the street of Zaandpoort, upon a certain evening, it had grown early dark.
veeringnounUS /ˈvɪrɪŋ/
the act of turning aside suddenly
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
at the time that
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Anon, when the rain slackened, the hurl of the storm overhead could be heard, while up aloft every chimney in Amersfort seemed to shriek aloud in a different key.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would sit up, she said, till William returned from duty, and then she would be sure to hear him approach.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She would sit up, she said, till William returned from duty, and then she would be sure to hear him approach.
but in spite of that
From this reading The sullen, sultry day had broken down at the gloaming into a black and gurly night of rain, which came in fierce dashes, alternating with fickle, veering flaws and yet stranger lulls and stillnesses.
Zaandpoort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAISIE'S NIGHT QUEST In the street of Zaandpoort, upon a certain evening, it had grown early dark.
