used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The night chill came, the quavering wail of the coyotes crept closer to the outskirts of the town, the unbelievably brilliant stars came out to illuminate a many-splendored night.
AbilenenounUS /ˈæbɪliːn/
a city in central Texas
From this reading THE MAN HUNT THE sun sank gently back of the grasslands encircling Abilene.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The fumes of liquor, the reek of packed humanity filled each insignificant room along Liquor Lane in Abilene.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading THE MAN HUNT THE sun sank gently back of the grasslands encircling Abilene.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading The night chill came, the quavering wail of the coyotes crept closer to the outskirts of the town, the unbelievably brilliant stars came out to illuminate a many-splendored night.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But to these things Abilene paid little heed.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The night chill came, the quavering wail of the coyotes crept closer to the outskirts of the town, the unbelievably brilliant stars came out to illuminate a many-splendored night.
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading The night chill came, the quavering wail of the coyotes crept closer to the outskirts of the town, the unbelievably brilliant stars came out to illuminate a many-splendored night.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading The night chill came, the quavering wail of the coyotes crept closer to the outskirts of the town, the unbelievably brilliant stars came out to illuminate a many-splendored night.
coyotesnounUS /kaɪˈoʊtis/
plural of “coyote” — small wolf native to western North America
From this reading The night chill came, the quavering wail of the coyotes crept closer to the outskirts of the town, the unbelievably brilliant stars came out to illuminate a many-splendored night.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading The night chill came, the quavering wail of the coyotes crept closer to the outskirts of the town, the unbelievably brilliant stars came out to illuminate a many-splendored night.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading She held festival on her day of triumph.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The fumes of liquor, the reek of packed humanity filled each insignificant room along Liquor Lane in Abilene.
encirclingadjectiveUS /enˈsɜːrkəlɪŋ/
being all around the edges; enclosing
From this reading THE MAN HUNT THE sun sank gently back of the grasslands encircling Abilene.
festivalnounUS /ˈfestəvəl/
a day or period of time set aside for feasting and celebration
From this reading She held festival on her day of triumph.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The fumes of liquor, the reek of packed humanity filled each insignificant room along Liquor Lane in Abilene.
fumesnounUS /fjuːmz/
gases ejected from an engine as waste products
From this reading The fumes of liquor, the reek of packed humanity filled each insignificant room along Liquor Lane in Abilene.
in a gradual manner
From this reading THE MAN HUNT THE sun sank gently back of the grasslands encircling Abilene.
grasslandsnounUS /ˈɡræslændz/
plural of “grassland” — land where grass or grasslike vegetation grows and is the dominant form of plant life
From this reading THE MAN HUNT THE sun sank gently back of the grasslands encircling Abilene.
heednounUS /hiːd/
paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people)
From this reading But to these things Abilene paid little heed.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading She held festival on her day of triumph.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She held festival on her day of triumph.
the quality of being humane
From this reading The fumes of liquor, the reek of packed humanity filled each insignificant room along Liquor Lane in Abilene.
pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)
From this reading THE MAN HUNT THE sun sank gently back of the grasslands encircling Abilene.
illuminateverbUS /ɪˈluː.mɪ.neɪt/
To light up or make clear; to decorate a manuscript with gold, silver, or brilliant colors.
From this reading The night chill came, the quavering wail of the coyotes crept closer to the outskirts of the town, the unbelievably brilliant stars came out to illuminate a many-splendored night.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The fumes of liquor, the reek of packed humanity filled each insignificant room along Liquor Lane in Abilene.
insignificantadjectiveUS /ˌɪnsɪɡˈnjɪfɪkənt/
signifying nothing
From this reading The fumes of liquor, the reek of packed humanity filled each insignificant room along Liquor Lane in Abilene.
a narrow way or road
From this reading The fumes of liquor, the reek of packed humanity filled each insignificant room along Liquor Lane in Abilene.
liquornounUS /ˈlɪkər/
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading The fumes of liquor, the reek of packed humanity filled each insignificant room along Liquor Lane in Abilene.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But to these things Abilene paid little heed.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE MAN HUNT THE sun sank gently back of the grasslands encircling Abilene.
many-splendored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night chill came, the quavering wail of the coyotes crept closer to the outskirts of the town, the unbelievably brilliant stars came out to illuminate a many-splendored night.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The night chill came, the quavering wail of the coyotes crept closer to the outskirts of the town, the unbelievably brilliant stars came out to illuminate a many-splendored night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MAN HUNT THE sun sank gently back of the grasslands encircling Abilene.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She held festival on her day of triumph.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The night chill came, the quavering wail of the coyotes crept closer to the outskirts of the town, the unbelievably brilliant stars came out to illuminate a many-splendored night.
outskirtsnounUS /ˈaʊtskɜːrts/
outlying areas (as of a city or town)
From this reading The night chill came, the quavering wail of the coyotes crept closer to the outskirts of the town, the unbelievably brilliant stars came out to illuminate a many-splendored night.
packedadjectiveUS /pækt/
extremely crowed or filled to capacity
From this reading The fumes of liquor, the reek of packed humanity filled each insignificant room along Liquor Lane in Abilene.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading But to these things Abilene paid little heed.
quaveringadjectiveUS /ˈkweɪvərɪŋ/
(of the voice) quivering as from weakness or fear
From this reading The night chill came, the quavering wail of the coyotes crept closer to the outskirts of the town, the unbelievably brilliant stars came out to illuminate a many-splendored night.
reekverbUS /riːk/
have an element suggestive (of something)
From this reading The fumes of liquor, the reek of packed humanity filled each insignificant room along Liquor Lane in Abilene.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The fumes of liquor, the reek of packed humanity filled each insignificant room along Liquor Lane in Abilene.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading THE MAN HUNT THE sun sank gently back of the grasslands encircling Abilene.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She held festival on her day of triumph.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading The night chill came, the quavering wail of the coyotes crept closer to the outskirts of the town, the unbelievably brilliant stars came out to illuminate a many-splendored night.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading THE MAN HUNT THE sun sank gently back of the grasslands encircling Abilene.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MAN HUNT THE sun sank gently back of the grasslands encircling Abilene.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But to these things Abilene paid little heed.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading But to these things Abilene paid little heed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The night chill came, the quavering wail of the coyotes crept closer to the outskirts of the town, the unbelievably brilliant stars came out to illuminate a many-splendored night.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The night chill came, the quavering wail of the coyotes crept closer to the outskirts of the town, the unbelievably brilliant stars came out to illuminate a many-splendored night.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading She held festival on her day of triumph.
unbelievablyadverbUS /ˌʌnbəˈliːvəbli/
not easy to believe
From this reading The night chill came, the quavering wail of the coyotes crept closer to the outskirts of the town, the unbelievably brilliant stars came out to illuminate a many-splendored night.
wailverbUS /weɪl/
emit long loud cries
From this reading The night chill came, the quavering wail of the coyotes crept closer to the outskirts of the town, the unbelievably brilliant stars came out to illuminate a many-splendored night.
