used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading It was dark by this time, and the way seemed even longer than it had done when he was on his way to Courtstairs that afternoon.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Even the cry of the sea-birds was startling, as it came to Clifford’s ears on the clear air.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was dark by this time, and the way seemed even longer than it had done when he was on his way to Courtstairs that afternoon.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
terminate
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was dark by this time, and the way seemed even longer than it had done when he was on his way to Courtstairs that afternoon.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Even the cry of the sea-birds was startling, as it came to Clifford’s ears on the clear air.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Even the cry of the sea-birds was startling, as it came to Clifford’s ears on the clear air.
Clifford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the meantime Clifford was proceeding slowly on his way to Shingle End.
Clifford's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even the cry of the sea-birds was startling, as it came to Clifford’s ears on the clear air.
a small house with a single story
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
Courtstairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dark by this time, and the way seemed even longer than it had done when he was on his way to Courtstairs that afternoon.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Even the cry of the sea-birds was startling, as it came to Clifford’s ears on the clear air.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was dark by this time, and the way seemed even longer than it had done when he was on his way to Courtstairs that afternoon.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading It was dark by this time, and the way seemed even longer than it had done when he was on his way to Courtstairs that afternoon.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Even the cry of the sea-birds was startling, as it came to Clifford’s ears on the clear air.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading In the meantime Clifford was proceeding slowly on his way to Shingle End.
divisible by two
From this reading It was dark by this time, and the way seemed even longer than it had done when he was on his way to Courtstairs that afternoon.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was dark by this time, and the way seemed even longer than it had done when he was on his way to Courtstairs that afternoon.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was dark by this time, and the way seemed even longer than it had done when he was on his way to Courtstairs that afternoon.
hedgeless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
highwaynounUS /ˈhaɪweɪ/
a major road for any form of motor transport
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In the meantime Clifford was proceeding slowly on his way to Shingle End.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the meantime Clifford was proceeding slowly on his way to Shingle End.
infrequentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfriːkwənt/
not frequent; not occurring regularly or at short intervals
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
inkyadjectiveUS /ˈɪŋki/
of the color of black ink
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was dark by this time, and the way seemed even longer than it had done when he was on his way to Courtstairs that afternoon.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
for more time
From this reading It was dark by this time, and the way seemed even longer than it had done when he was on his way to Courtstairs that afternoon.
marshnounUS /mɑːrʃ/
low-lying wet land with grassy vegetation; usually is a transition zone between land and water
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
the time between one event, process, or period and another
From this reading In the meantime Clifford was proceeding slowly on his way to Shingle End.
monotonynounUS /məˈnɑːtəni/
the quality of wearisome constancy, routine, and lack of variety
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the meantime Clifford was proceeding slowly on his way to Shingle End.
and nothing more
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
proceedingnounUS /prəˈsiːdɪŋ/
(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked
From this reading In the meantime Clifford was proceeding slowly on his way to Shingle End.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
ridgenounUS /rɪdʒ/
a long narrow natural elevation or striation
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
precisely, exactly
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
sea-birds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even the cry of the sea-birds was startling, as it came to Clifford’s ears on the clear air.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was dark by this time, and the way seemed even longer than it had done when he was on his way to Courtstairs that afternoon.
ShinglenounUS /ˈʃɪŋɡəl/
building material used as siding or roofing
From this reading In the meantime Clifford was proceeding slowly on his way to Shingle End.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading In the meantime Clifford was proceeding slowly on his way to Shingle End.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading Even the cry of the sea-birds was startling, as it came to Clifford’s ears on the clear air.
not in physical motion
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
successive (without a break)
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was dark by this time, and the way seemed even longer than it had done when he was on his way to Courtstairs that afternoon.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was dark by this time, and the way seemed even longer than it had done when he was on his way to Courtstairs that afternoon.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the meantime Clifford was proceeding slowly on his way to Shingle End.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was dark by this time, and the way seemed even longer than it had done when he was on his way to Courtstairs that afternoon.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was dark by this time, and the way seemed even longer than it had done when he was on his way to Courtstairs that afternoon.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the meantime Clifford was proceeding slowly on his way to Shingle End.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the meantime Clifford was proceeding slowly on his way to Shingle End.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading In the meantime Clifford was proceeding slowly on his way to Shingle End.
waysidenounUS /ˈweɪsaɪd/
edge of a way or road or path
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
wearisomeadjectiveUS /ˈwɪrisəm/
so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
at the time that
From this reading It was dark by this time, and the way seemed even longer than it had done when he was on his way to Courtstairs that afternoon.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a faint light over the gray sea, but on the right, over the marsh, and away as far as the ridge of hill on which old Fleet Castle stood, there was inky blackness.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was a lonely road at night, this long, dreary stretch of straight, hedgeless highway, with only an occasional bit of ragged bush or a still more infrequent wayside cottage, to break up its wearisome monotony.
