adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
AndeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
blurredadjectiveUS /blɜːrd/
indistinct or hazy in outline
From this reading It seemed to her blurred fancy more than a deadening sky: a something solemn and unknown, hinting of evil to come.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
colouradjectiveUS /ˈkʌlər/
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It seemed to her blurred fancy more than a deadening sky: a something solemn and unknown, hinting of evil to come.
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
consciousadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnʃəs/
intentionally conceived
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
darkenedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənd/
(of fabrics and paper) grown dark in color over time
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
deadeningnounUS /ˈdedənɪŋ/
the act of making something futile and useless (as by routine)
From this reading It seemed to her blurred fancy more than a deadening sky: a something solemn and unknown, hinting of evil to come.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
draggingadjectiveUS /ˈdræɡɪŋ/
marked by a painfully slow and effortful manner
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
dreadnounUS /dred/
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading There was a vague dread in the sudden silence.
dwarf-pines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
evilnounUS /ˈiːvəl/
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading It seemed to her blurred fancy more than a deadening sky: a something solemn and unknown, hinting of evil to come.
factnounUS /fækt/
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
fancynounUS /ˈfænsi/
something many people believe that is false
From this reading It seemed to her blurred fancy more than a deadening sky: a something solemn and unknown, hinting of evil to come.
farmsnounUS /fɑːrmz/
plural of “farm” — workplace consisting of farm buildings and cultivated land as a unit
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
flashedverbUS /flæʃt/
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
frightenedadjectiveUS /ˈfraɪtənd/
made afraid
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
graynounUS /ɡreɪ/
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
grewverbUS /ɡruː/
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
hill-road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
hintingverbUS /ˈhɪntɪŋ/
-ing form of “hint” — drop a hint; intimate by a hint
From this reading It seemed to her blurred fancy more than a deadening sky: a something solemn and unknown, hinting of evil to come.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
hushverbUS /hʌʃ/
become quiet or still; fall silent
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
inexplicableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnəkˈsplɪsəbəl/
incapable of being explained or accounted for
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
keepingnounUS /ˈkiːpɪŋ/
conformity or harmony
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
Lois
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
measurenounUS /ˈmeʒər/
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
minnowsnounUS /ˈmɪnoʊz/
plural of “minnow” — very small European freshwater fish common in gravelly streams
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It seemed to her blurred fancy more than a deadening sky: a something solemn and unknown, hinting of evil to come.
muddyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
murkyadjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrki/
(of liquids) clouded as with sediment
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
nichesnounUS /ˈnɪtʃɪz/
plural of “niche” — a position particularly well suited to the person who occupies it
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
opaqueadjectiveUS /oʊˈpeɪk/
not transmitting or reflecting light or radiant energy; impenetrable to sight
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
poolsnounUS /puːlz/
plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
precedesverbUS /prɪˈsiːdz/
third-person singular of “precede” — be earlier in time; go back further
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
road-side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
scowledverbUS /skaʊld/
past form of “scowl” — frown with displeasure
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to her blurred fancy more than a deadening sky: a something solemn and unknown, hinting of evil to come.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading There was a vague dread in the sudden silence.
silvernounUS /ˈsɪlvər/
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
singingnounUS /ˈsɪŋɪŋ/
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
skynounUS /skaɪ/
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading It seemed to her blurred fancy more than a deadening sky: a something solemn and unknown, hinting of evil to come.
solemnadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləm/
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading It seemed to her blurred fancy more than a deadening sky: a something solemn and unknown, hinting of evil to come.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It seemed to her blurred fancy more than a deadening sky: a something solemn and unknown, hinting of evil to come.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
stoppedadjectiveUS /stɑːpt/
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
stormverbUS /stɔːrm/
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
suddenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌdən/
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading There was a vague dread in the sudden silence.
sullenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌlən/
showing a brooding ill humor
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
sultryadjectiveUS /ˈsʌltri/
sexually exciting or gratifying
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It seemed to her blurred fancy more than a deadening sky: a something solemn and unknown, hinting of evil to come.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a vague dread in the sudden silence.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
trailsnounUS /treɪlz/
plural of “trail” — a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
unknownadjectiveUS /ənˈnoʊn/
not known
From this reading It seemed to her blurred fancy more than a deadening sky: a something solemn and unknown, hinting of evil to come.
vagueadjectiveUS /veɪɡ/
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading There was a vague dread in the sudden silence.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a vague dread in the sudden silence.
weaklyadverbUS /ˈwiːkli/
in a weak or feeble manner or to a minor degree
From this reading The dwarf-pines on the road-side scowled weakly at her through the gray; the very silver minnows in the pools she passed, flashed frightened away, and darkened into the muddy niches.
westnounUS /west/
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
whip-end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
woodenadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdən/
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading But Lois, coming down the hill-road, singing to herself, and keeping time with her whip-end on the wooden measure, stopped when she grew conscious of it.
woodsnounUS /wʊdz/
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
yellowadjectiveUS /ˈjeloʊ/
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading An hour after, the evening came on sultry, the air murky, opaque, with yellow trails of colour dragging in the west: a sullen stillness in the woods and farms; only, in fact, that dark, inexplicable hush that precedes a storm.
