used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “What a pitiful little end it is!”
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “It is the end,” she said, clutching at the flimsy folds about her throat.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading FACE TO FACE WITH HERSELF She stood on the terrace, amid the gloom of the placid, moonless night.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The great house gleamed dully white behind her, and the wealth of foliage that embowered it stretched in black masses beyond.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Fronting the facts calmly, as was her manner, she knew everything she had striven for to be now fully in her power.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “It is the end,” she said, clutching at the flimsy folds about her throat.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Fronting the facts calmly, as was her manner, she knew everything she had striven for to be now fully in her power.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The great house gleamed dully white behind her, and the wealth of foliage that embowered it stretched in black masses beyond.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The great house gleamed dully white behind her, and the wealth of foliage that embowered it stretched in black masses beyond.
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 great house gleamed dully white behind her, and the wealth of foliage that embowered it stretched in black masses beyond.
with self-possession (especially in times of stress)
From this reading Fronting the facts calmly, as was her manner, she knew everything she had striven for to be now fully in her power.
clutchingverbUS /ˈklʌtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading “It is the end,” she said, clutching at the flimsy folds about her throat.
dullyadverb
without liveliness
From this reading The great house gleamed dully white behind her, and the wealth of foliage that embowered it stretched in black masses beyond.
embowered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The great house gleamed dully white behind her, and the wealth of foliage that embowered it stretched in black masses beyond.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading “It is the end,” she said, clutching at the flimsy folds about her throat.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Fronting the facts calmly, as was her manner, she knew everything she had striven for to be now fully in her power.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading FACE TO FACE WITH HERSELF She stood on the terrace, amid the gloom of the placid, moonless night.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Fronting the facts calmly, as was her manner, she knew everything she had striven for to be now fully in her power.
flimsyadjectiveUS /ˈflɪmzi/
lacking solidity or strength
From this reading “It is the end,” she said, clutching at the flimsy folds about her throat.
foldsnounUS /foʊldz/
plural of “fold” — an angular or rounded shape made by folding
From this reading “It is the end,” she said, clutching at the flimsy folds about her throat.
foliagenounUS /ˈfoʊlɪdʒ/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The great house gleamed dully white behind her, and the wealth of foliage that embowered it stretched in black masses beyond.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Fronting the facts calmly, as was her manner, she knew everything she had striven for to be now fully in her power.
FrontingverbUS /ˈfrʌntɪŋ/
-ing form of “front” — be oriented in a certain direction, often with respect to another reference point; be opposite to
From this reading Fronting the facts calmly, as was her manner, she knew everything she had striven for to be now fully in her power.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading Fronting the facts calmly, as was her manner, she knew everything she had striven for to be now fully in her power.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The great house gleamed dully white behind her, and the wealth of foliage that embowered it stretched in black masses beyond.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading FACE TO FACE WITH HERSELF She stood on the terrace, amid the gloom of the placid, moonless night.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The great house gleamed dully white behind her, and the wealth of foliage that embowered it stretched in black masses beyond.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Fronting the facts calmly, as was her manner, she knew everything she had striven for to be now fully in her power.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The great house gleamed dully white behind her, and the wealth of foliage that embowered it stretched in black masses beyond.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading FACE TO FACE WITH HERSELF She stood on the terrace, amid the gloom of the placid, moonless night.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The great house gleamed dully white behind her, and the wealth of foliage that embowered it stretched in black masses beyond.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The great house gleamed dully white behind her, and the wealth of foliage that embowered it stretched in black masses beyond.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It is the end,” she said, clutching at the flimsy folds about her throat.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The great house gleamed dully white behind her, and the wealth of foliage that embowered it stretched in black masses beyond.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Fronting the facts calmly, as was her manner, she knew everything she had striven for to be now fully in her power.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “What a pitiful little end it is!”
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Fronting the facts calmly, as was her manner, she knew everything she had striven for to be now fully in her power.
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading The great house gleamed dully white behind her, and the wealth of foliage that embowered it stretched in black masses beyond.
moonlessadjective
without a moon or a visible moon
From this reading FACE TO FACE WITH HERSELF She stood on the terrace, amid the gloom of the placid, moonless night.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading FACE TO FACE WITH HERSELF She stood on the terrace, amid the gloom of the placid, moonless night.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Fronting the facts calmly, as was her manner, she knew everything she had striven for to be now fully in her power.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading FACE TO FACE WITH HERSELF She stood on the terrace, amid the gloom of the placid, moonless night.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading FACE TO FACE WITH HERSELF She stood on the terrace, amid the gloom of the placid, moonless night.
pitifuladjectiveUS /ˈpɪtəfəl/
inspiring mixed contempt and pity
From this reading “What a pitiful little end it is!”
placidadjectiveUS /ˈplæsəd/
(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
From this reading FACE TO FACE WITH HERSELF She stood on the terrace, amid the gloom of the placid, moonless night.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading Fronting the facts calmly, as was her manner, she knew everything she had striven for to be now fully in her power.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “It is the end,” she said, clutching at the flimsy folds about her throat.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading FACE TO FACE WITH HERSELF She stood on the terrace, amid the gloom of the placid, moonless night.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading FACE TO FACE WITH HERSELF She stood on the terrace, amid the gloom of the placid, moonless night.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading The great house gleamed dully white behind her, and the wealth of foliage that embowered it stretched in black masses beyond.
strivenverbUS /ˈstrɪvən/
inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading Fronting the facts calmly, as was her manner, she knew everything she had striven for to be now fully in her power.
terracenounUS /ˈterəs/
usually paved outdoor area adjoining a residence
From this reading FACE TO FACE WITH HERSELF She stood on the terrace, amid the gloom of the placid, moonless night.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The great house gleamed dully white behind her, and the wealth of foliage that embowered it stretched in black masses beyond.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FACE TO FACE WITH HERSELF She stood on the terrace, amid the gloom of the placid, moonless night.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading “It is the end,” she said, clutching at the flimsy folds about her throat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading FACE TO FACE WITH HERSELF She stood on the terrace, amid the gloom of the placid, moonless night.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Fronting the facts calmly, as was her manner, she knew everything she had striven for to be now fully in her power.
the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money
From this reading The great house gleamed dully white behind her, and the wealth of foliage that embowered it stretched in black masses beyond.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What a pitiful little end it is!”
a Caucasian
From this reading The great house gleamed dully white behind her, and the wealth of foliage that embowered it stretched in black masses beyond.
in the company of; together with
From this reading FACE TO FACE WITH HERSELF She stood on the terrace, amid the gloom of the placid, moonless night.
