used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading That it whirled as well as floated was now clear, for a strong wind blew before and after it as it rushed by.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I watched it, I say, for an hour: it may have been for two hours.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
move towards
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I watched it, I say, for an hour: it may have been for two hours.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading That it whirled as well as floated was now clear, for a strong wind blew before and after it as it rushed by.
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading That it whirled as well as floated was now clear, for a strong wind blew before and after it as it rushed by.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading That it whirled as well as floated was now clear, for a strong wind blew before and after it as it rushed by.
By-and-bynoun
an indefinite time in the future
From this reading By-and-by it came nearer, gradually very near.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading By-and-by it came nearer, gradually very near.
rid of obstructions
From this reading That it whirled as well as floated was now clear, for a strong wind blew before and after it as it rushed by.
corenounUS /kɔːr/
a small group of indispensable persons or things
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
dazzlingadjectiveUS /ˈdæzəlɪŋ/
amazingly impressive; suggestive of the flashing of lightning
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
fernnounUS /fɜːrn/
any of numerous flowerless and seedless vascular plants having true roots from a rhizome and fronds that uncurl upward; reproduce by spores
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
flickeringadjectiveUS /ˈflɪkərɪŋ/
shining unsteadily
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading That it whirled as well as floated was now clear, for a strong wind blew before and after it as it rushed by.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I watched it, I say, for an hour: it may have been for two hours.
frondsnounUS /frɑːndz/
plural of “frond” — compound leaf of a fern or palm or cycad
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
in a gradual manner
From this reading By-and-by it came nearer, gradually very near.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I watched it, I say, for an hour: it may have been for two hours.
heelingverbUS /ˈhiːlɪŋ/
-ing form of “heel” — tilt to one side
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading I watched it, I say, for an hour: it may have been for two hours.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading I watched it, I say, for an hour: it may have been for two hours.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I watched it, I say, for an hour: it may have been for two hours.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
inappreciableadjective
too small to make a significant difference
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
intensitynounUS /ɪnˈtensəti/
the amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation)
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
intolerablyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtɑːlərəbli/
to an unacceptable degree
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I watched it, I say, for an hour: it may have been for two hours.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
lambencynoun
an appearance of reflected light
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading I watched it, I say, for an hour: it may have been for two hours.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading By-and-by it came nearer, gradually very near.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading By-and-by it came nearer, gradually very near.
not any; not one
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
peernounUS /pɪr/
a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
done under pressure
From this reading That it whirled as well as floated was now clear, for a strong wind blew before and after it as it rushed by.
cut with a saw
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
express in words
From this reading I watched it, I say, for an hour: it may have been for two hours.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
spiring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
strawsnounUS /strɔːz/
plural of “straw” — plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading That it whirled as well as floated was now clear, for a strong wind blew before and after it as it rushed by.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading I watched it, I say, for an hour: it may have been for two hours.
precisely as stated
From this reading By-and-by it came nearer, gradually very near.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was now dazzling, not to be looked at full; but its rate of approach was inappreciable, and as it came on I was able to peer into it and see nothing but its beauty.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading I watched it, I say, for an hour: it may have been for two hours.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading That it whirled as well as floated was now clear, for a strong wind blew before and after it as it rushed by.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a core of intensity, intolerably bright; about that, lambency but no flame, in which I saw leaves and straws and fronds of fern flickering, spiring, heeling over and over.
whirledverbUS /wɜːrld/
past form of “whirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading That it whirled as well as floated was now clear, for a strong wind blew before and after it as it rushed by.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading That it whirled as well as floated was now clear, for a strong wind blew before and after it as it rushed by.
