adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
anchoragenounUS /ˈæŋkərədʒ/
the condition of being secured to a base
From this reading From the harbor, as we approached our anchorage, we had heard it at the same time from both shores, from both walls of green mountains.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SONG OF THE CICALA Forever, throughout everything, rises day and night from the whole country the song of the cicalas, ceaseless, strident, and insistent.
appearingnounUS /əˈpɪrɪŋ/
formal attendance (in court or at a hearing) of a party in an action
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
approachedverbUS /əˈproʊtʃt/
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading From the harbor, as we approached our anchorage, we had heard it at the same time from both shores, from both walls of green mountains.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading And the mountains around reecho their cry.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading From the harbor, as we approached our anchorage, we had heard it at the same time from both shores, from both walls of green mountains.
astonishmentnounUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃmənt/
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading Over the valleys and the deep bay sail these birds, uttering, from time to time, their three cries, "Ha! ha! ha!" in a key of sadness that seems the extreme of painful astonishment.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It is everywhere, and never-ending, at no matter what hour of the burning day, or what hour of the refreshing night.
baynounUS /beɪ/
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading Over the valleys and the deep bay sail these birds, uttering, from time to time, their three cries, "Ha! ha! ha!" in a key of sadness that seems the extreme of painful astonishment.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It is wearisome and haunting; it seems to be the manifestation, the noise expressive of the kind of life peculiar to this region of the world.
birdsnounUS /bɜːrdz/
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Over the valleys and the deep bay sail these birds, uttering, from time to time, their three cries, "Ha! ha! ha!" in a key of sadness that seems the extreme of painful astonishment.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading From the harbor, as we approached our anchorage, we had heard it at the same time from both shores, from both walls of green mountains.
burningnounUS /ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/
the act of burning something
From this reading It is everywhere, and never-ending, at no matter what hour of the burning day, or what hour of the refreshing night.
ceaselessadjectiveUS /ˈsiːslɪs/
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
From this reading THE SONG OF THE CICALA Forever, throughout everything, rises day and night from the whole country the song of the cicalas, ceaseless, strident, and insistent.
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading It is to me the noise characteristic of this country--this, and the cry of the falcon, which had in like manner greeted our entry into Japan.
CICALAnounUS /sɪˈkɑːlə/
stout-bodied insect with large membranous wings; male has drum-like organs for producing a high-pitched drone
From this reading THE SONG OF THE CICALA Forever, throughout everything, rises day and night from the whole country the song of the cicalas, ceaseless, strident, and insistent.
cicalas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SONG OF THE CICALA Forever, throughout everything, rises day and night from the whole country the song of the cicalas, ceaseless, strident, and insistent.
contentnounUS /ˈkɑːntent/
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading THE SONG OF THE CICALA Forever, throughout everything, rises day and night from the whole country the song of the cicalas, ceaseless, strident, and insistent.
criesnounUS /kraɪz/
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading Over the valleys and the deep bay sail these birds, uttering, from time to time, their three cries, "Ha! ha! ha!" in a key of sadness that seems the extreme of painful astonishment.
cryverbUS /kraɪ/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading It is to me the noise characteristic of this country--this, and the cry of the falcon, which had in like manner greeted our entry into Japan.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE SONG OF THE CICALA Forever, throughout everything, rises day and night from the whole country the song of the cicalas, ceaseless, strident, and insistent.
deepadjectiveUS /diːp/
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Over the valleys and the deep bay sail these birds, uttering, from time to time, their three cries, "Ha! ha! ha!" in a key of sadness that seems the extreme of painful astonishment.
entrynounUS /ˈentri/
an item inserted in a written record
From this reading It is to me the noise characteristic of this country--this, and the cry of the falcon, which had in like manner greeted our entry into Japan.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading THE SONG OF THE CICALA Forever, throughout everything, rises day and night from the whole country the song of the cicalas, ceaseless, strident, and insistent.
everywhereadverbUS /ˈevriwer/
to or in any or all places
From this reading It is everywhere, and never-ending, at no matter what hour of the burning day, or what hour of the refreshing night.
expressiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspresɪv/
characterized by expression
From this reading It is wearisome and haunting; it seems to be the manifestation, the noise expressive of the kind of life peculiar to this region of the world.
extremeadjectiveUS /ekˈstriːm/
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading Over the valleys and the deep bay sail these birds, uttering, from time to time, their three cries, "Ha! ha! ha!" in a key of sadness that seems the extreme of painful astonishment.
exultationnoun
a feeling of extreme joy
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
falconnounUS /ˈfælkən/
diurnal birds of prey having long pointed powerful wings adapted for swift flight
From this reading It is to me the noise characteristic of this country--this, and the cry of the falcon, which had in like manner greeted our entry into Japan.
ForeveradverbUS /fərˈevər/
for a limitless time
From this reading THE SONG OF THE CICALA Forever, throughout everything, rises day and night from the whole country the song of the cicalas, ceaseless, strident, and insistent.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE SONG OF THE CICALA Forever, throughout everything, rises day and night from the whole country the song of the cicalas, ceaseless, strident, and insistent.
greateradjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪtər/
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
greennounUS /ɡriːn/
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading From the harbor, as we approached our anchorage, we had heard it at the same time from both shores, from both walls of green mountains.
greetedverbUS /ˈɡriːtəd/
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading It is to me the noise characteristic of this country--this, and the cry of the falcon, which had in like manner greeted our entry into Japan.
HanounUS /hɑː/
(astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial point measured westward along the celestial equator from the zenith crossing; the right ascension for an observer at a particular location and time of day
From this reading Over the valleys and the deep bay sail these birds, uttering, from time to time, their three cries, "Ha! ha! ha!" in a key of sadness that seems the extreme of painful astonishment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading From the harbor, as we approached our anchorage, we had heard it at the same time from both shores, from both walls of green mountains.
happinessnounUS /ˈhæpinəs/
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
harborverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)
From this reading From the harbor, as we approached our anchorage, we had heard it at the same time from both shores, from both walls of green mountains.
hauntingadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪŋ/
continually recurring to the mind
From this reading It is wearisome and haunting; it seems to be the manifestation, the noise expressive of the kind of life peculiar to this region of the world.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading From the harbor, as we approached our anchorage, we had heard it at the same time from both shores, from both walls of green mountains.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It is everywhere, and never-ending, at no matter what hour of the burning day, or what hour of the refreshing night.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
inflateverbUS /ɪnˈfleɪt/
exaggerate or make bigger
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
insistentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsɪstənt/
repetitive and persistent
From this reading THE SONG OF THE CICALA Forever, throughout everything, rises day and night from the whole country the song of the cicalas, ceaseless, strident, and insistent.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It is to me the noise characteristic of this country--this, and the cry of the falcon, which had in like manner greeted our entry into Japan.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is everywhere, and never-ending, at no matter what hour of the burning day, or what hour of the refreshing night.
islandsnounUS /ˈaɪləndz/
plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is everywhere, and never-ending, at no matter what hour of the burning day, or what hour of the refreshing night.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
JapannounUS /dʒəˈpæn/
a string of more than 3,000 islands to the east of Asia extending 1,300 miles between the Sea of Japan and the western Pacific Ocean
From this reading It is to me the noise characteristic of this country--this, and the cry of the falcon, which had in like manner greeted our entry into Japan.
keynounUS /kiː/
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 Over the valleys and the deep bay sail these birds, uttering, from time to time, their three cries, "Ha! ha! ha!" in a key of sadness that seems the extreme of painful astonishment.
kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading It is wearisome and haunting; it seems to be the manifestation, the noise expressive of the kind of life peculiar to this region of the world.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It is wearisome and haunting; it seems to be the manifestation, the noise expressive of the kind of life peculiar to this region of the world.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It is to me the noise characteristic of this country--this, and the cry of the falcon, which had in like manner greeted our entry into Japan.
livingnounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋ/
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
manifestationnounUS /ˌmænəfeˈsteɪʃən/
a clear appearance
From this reading It is wearisome and haunting; it seems to be the manifestation, the noise expressive of the kind of life peculiar to this region of the world.
mannernounUS /ˈmænər/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It is to me the noise characteristic of this country--this, and the cry of the falcon, which had in like manner greeted our entry into Japan.
matternounUS /ˈmætər/
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading It is everywhere, and never-ending, at no matter what hour of the burning day, or what hour of the refreshing night.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It is to me the noise characteristic of this country--this, and the cry of the falcon, which had in like manner greeted our entry into Japan.
mountainsnounUS /ˈmaʊntənz/
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading From the harbor, as we approached our anchorage, we had heard it at the same time from both shores, from both walls of green mountains.
never-endingadjectiveUS /ˌnevərˈendɪŋ/
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
From this reading It is everywhere, and never-ending, at no matter what hour of the burning day, or what hour of the refreshing night.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE SONG OF THE CICALA Forever, throughout everything, rises day and night from the whole country the song of the cicalas, ceaseless, strident, and insistent.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading It is everywhere, and never-ending, at no matter what hour of the burning day, or what hour of the refreshing night.
noisenounUS /nɔɪz/
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading It is wearisome and haunting; it seems to be the manifestation, the noise expressive of the kind of life peculiar to this region of the world.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SONG OF THE CICALA Forever, throughout everything, rises day and night from the whole country the song of the cicalas, ceaseless, strident, and insistent.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It is everywhere, and never-ending, at no matter what hour of the burning day, or what hour of the refreshing night.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading From the harbor, as we approached our anchorage, we had heard it at the same time from both shores, from both walls of green mountains.
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over the valleys and the deep bay sail these birds, uttering, from time to time, their three cries, "Ha! ha! ha!" in a key of sadness that seems the extreme of painful astonishment.
painfuladjectiveUS /ˈpeɪnfəl/
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading Over the valleys and the deep bay sail these birds, uttering, from time to time, their three cries, "Ha! ha! ha!" in a key of sadness that seems the extreme of painful astonishment.
peculiaradjectiveUS /pəˈkjuːljər/
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading It is wearisome and haunting; it seems to be the manifestation, the noise expressive of the kind of life peculiar to this region of the world.
reechoverb
echo repeatedly, echo again and again
From this reading And the mountains around reecho their cry.
refreshingadjectiveUS /rɪˈfreʃɪŋ/
imparting vitality and energy
From this reading It is everywhere, and never-ending, at no matter what hour of the burning day, or what hour of the refreshing night.
regionnounUS /ˈriːdʒən/
the extended spatial location of something
From this reading It is wearisome and haunting; it seems to be the manifestation, the noise expressive of the kind of life peculiar to this region of the world.
rejoicingnounUS /rɪˈdʒɔɪsɪŋ/
a feeling of great happiness
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
riseverbUS /raɪz/
move upward
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
risesnounUS /ˈraɪzəz/
plural of “rise” — a growth in strength or number or importance
From this reading THE SONG OF THE CICALA Forever, throughout everything, rises day and night from the whole country the song of the cicalas, ceaseless, strident, and insistent.
sadnessnounUS /ˈsædnəs/
emotions experienced when not in a state of well-being
From this reading Over the valleys and the deep bay sail these birds, uttering, from time to time, their three cries, "Ha! ha! ha!" in a key of sadness that seems the extreme of painful astonishment.
sailverbUS /seɪl/
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading Over the valleys and the deep bay sail these birds, uttering, from time to time, their three cries, "Ha! ha! ha!" in a key of sadness that seems the extreme of painful astonishment.
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/
Identical; not different.
From this reading From the harbor, as we approached our anchorage, we had heard it at the same time from both shores, from both walls of green mountains.
seemsverbUS /siːmz/
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It is wearisome and haunting; it seems to be the manifestation, the noise expressive of the kind of life peculiar to this region of the world.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
shoresnounUS /ʃɔːrz/
plural of “shore” — the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading From the harbor, as we approached our anchorage, we had heard it at the same time from both shores, from both walls of green mountains.
SONGnounUS /sɔːŋ/
a short musical composition with words
From this reading THE SONG OF THE CICALA Forever, throughout everything, rises day and night from the whole country the song of the cicalas, ceaseless, strident, and insistent.
stridentadjectiveUS /ˈstraɪdənt/
conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry
From this reading THE SONG OF THE CICALA Forever, throughout everything, rises day and night from the whole country the song of the cicalas, ceaseless, strident, and insistent.
summernounUS /ˈsʌmər/
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Over the valleys and the deep bay sail these birds, uttering, from time to time, their three cries, "Ha! ha! ha!" in a key of sadness that seems the extreme of painful astonishment.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SONG OF THE CICALA Forever, throughout everything, rises day and night from the whole country the song of the cicalas, ceaseless, strident, and insistent.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Over the valleys and the deep bay sail these birds, uttering, from time to time, their three cries, "Ha! ha! ha!" in a key of sadness that seems the extreme of painful astonishment.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It is wearisome and haunting; it seems to be the manifestation, the noise expressive of the kind of life peculiar to this region of the world.
threenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Over the valleys and the deep bay sail these birds, uttering, from time to time, their three cries, "Ha! ha! ha!" in a key of sadness that seems the extreme of painful astonishment.
throughoutprepositionUS /θruːˈaʊt/
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading THE SONG OF THE CICALA Forever, throughout everything, rises day and night from the whole country the song of the cicalas, ceaseless, strident, and insistent.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading From the harbor, as we approached our anchorage, we had heard it at the same time from both shores, from both walls of green mountains.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is wearisome and haunting; it seems to be the manifestation, the noise expressive of the kind of life peculiar to this region of the world.
unconsciousadjectiveUS /ˌʌnˈkɑːnʃəs/
not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
utteringverbUS /ˈʌtərɪŋ/
-ing form of “utter” — articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading Over the valleys and the deep bay sail these birds, uttering, from time to time, their three cries, "Ha! ha! ha!" in a key of sadness that seems the extreme of painful astonishment.
valleysnounUS /ˈvæliz/
plural of “valley” — a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Over the valleys and the deep bay sail these birds, uttering, from time to time, their three cries, "Ha! ha! ha!" in a key of sadness that seems the extreme of painful astonishment.
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
wallsnounUS /wɔːlz/
plural of “wall” — 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 From the harbor, as we approached our anchorage, we had heard it at the same time from both shores, from both walls of green mountains.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading From the harbor, as we approached our anchorage, we had heard it at the same time from both shores, from both walls of green mountains.
wearisomeadjectiveUS /ˈwɪrisəm/
so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
From this reading It is wearisome and haunting; it seems to be the manifestation, the noise expressive of the kind of life peculiar to this region of the world.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It is everywhere, and never-ending, at no matter what hour of the burning day, or what hour of the refreshing night.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It is to me the noise characteristic of this country--this, and the cry of the falcon, which had in like manner greeted our entry into Japan.
wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading THE SONG OF THE CICALA Forever, throughout everything, rises day and night from the whole country the song of the cicalas, ceaseless, strident, and insistent.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It is the voice of summer in these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise, in a greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.
worldnounUS /wɜːrld/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading It is wearisome and haunting; it seems to be the manifestation, the noise expressive of the kind of life peculiar to this region of the world.
