used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
barkedverbUS /bɑːrkt/
past form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
catsnounUS /kæts/
plural of “cat” — feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
ChimneysnounUS /ˈtʃɪmniz/
plural of “chimney” — a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading Chimneys, houses and steeples rose up in the coming dawn, leaving the rest of the landscape obscure in the shadows.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Chimneys, houses and steeples rose up in the coming dawn, leaving the rest of the landscape obscure in the shadows.
cottagesnounUS /ˈkɑːtɪdʒɪz/
plural of “cottage” — a small house with a single story
From this reading She reached the first straggling cottages of the village.
the first light of day
From this reading Chimneys, houses and steeples rose up in the coming dawn, leaving the rest of the landscape obscure in the shadows.
dawningnounUS /ˈdɔːnɪŋ/
the first light of day
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
every person
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
exceptionnounUS /ɪkˈsepʃən/
a deliberate act of omission
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
plural of “fear” — an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading She reached the first straggling cottages of the village.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Chimneys, houses and steeples rose up in the coming dawn, leaving the rest of the landscape obscure in the shadows.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
InstinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading Instinctively she trod more softly on the paved road.
landscapenounUS /ˈlændskeɪp/
an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
From this reading Chimneys, houses and steeples rose up in the coming dawn, leaving the rest of the landscape obscure in the shadows.
the act of departing
From this reading Chimneys, houses and steeples rose up in the coming dawn, leaving the rest of the landscape obscure in the shadows.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Instinctively she trod more softly on the paved road.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
obscureverbUS /əbsˈkjʊr/
make less visible or unclear
From this reading Chimneys, houses and steeples rose up in the coming dawn, leaving the rest of the landscape obscure in the shadows.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Chimneys, houses and steeples rose up in the coming dawn, leaving the rest of the landscape obscure in the shadows.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Instinctively she trod more softly on the paved road.
and nothing more
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
pavedadjectiveUS /peɪvd/
covered with a firm surface
From this reading Instinctively she trod more softly on the paved road.
precautionnounUS /priˈkɔːʃən/
a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading She reached the first straggling cottages of the village.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Chimneys, houses and steeples rose up in the coming dawn, leaving the rest of the landscape obscure in the shadows.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Instinctively she trod more softly on the paved road.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Chimneys, houses and steeples rose up in the coming dawn, leaving the rest of the landscape obscure in the shadows.
cut with a saw
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading Chimneys, houses and steeples rose up in the coming dawn, leaving the rest of the landscape obscure in the shadows.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
silhouettedverbUS /ˌsɪləˈwetɪd/
past form of “silhouette” — project on a background, such as a screen, like a silhouette
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
with low volume
From this reading Instinctively she trod more softly on the paved road.
steeplesnounUS /ˈstiːpəlz/
plural of “steeple” — a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top
From this reading Chimneys, houses and steeples rose up in the coming dawn, leaving the rest of the landscape obscure in the shadows.
STORMSnounUS /stɔːrmz/
plural of “storm” — a violent weather condition with winds 64-72 knots (11 on the Beaufort scale) and precipitation and thunder and lightning
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
stragglingadjective
spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly
From this reading She reached the first straggling cottages of the village.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
trodverbUS /trɑːd/
inflected form of “tread” — put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading Instinctively she trod more softly on the paved road.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Chimneys, houses and steeples rose up in the coming dawn, leaving the rest of the landscape obscure in the shadows.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading She reached the first straggling cottages of the village.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading STORMS AND FEARS She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
which person or people
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
in the company of; together with
From this reading This was a useless precaution, for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her behind closed gates.
