used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
archesnounUS /ˈɑːrtʃəz/
plural of “arch” — a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening
From this reading There was no sign of the Lama, nor of Maitraya, and only one dim light was burning—a guttering candle set in a sconce under one of the arches.
arrangingnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒɪŋ/
the act of arranging and adapting a piece of music
From this reading Tall, specter-like figures, on the run, were carrying out loads and arranging them in a long row under the cloister.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
batsadjectiveUS /bæts/
informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
the act of burning something
From this reading There was no sign of the Lama, nor of Maitraya, and only one dim light was burning—a guttering candle set in a sconce under one of the arches.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE ROLL-CALL BY NIGHT.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading There was no sign of the Lama, nor of Maitraya, and only one dim light was burning—a guttering candle set in a sconce under one of the arches.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Tall, specter-like figures, on the run, were carrying out loads and arranging them in a long row under the cloister.
cloisterverbUS /ˈklɔɪstər/
surround with a cloister, as of a garden
From this reading Tall, specter-like figures, on the run, were carrying out loads and arranging them in a long row under the cloister.
collisionnounUS /kəˈlɪʒən/
(physics) a brief event in which two or more bodies come together
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrt.jɑːrd/
An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by the walls of a house.
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
Dawa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They go!” said Dawa Tsering.
devoidadjectiveUS /dɪˈvɔɪd/
completely wanting or lacking
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading There was no sign of the Lama, nor of Maitraya, and only one dim light was burning—a guttering candle set in a sconce under one of the arches.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Tall, specter-like figures, on the run, were carrying out loads and arranging them in a long row under the cloister.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
flittingverbUS /ˈflɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “flit” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “They go!” said Dawa Tsering.
gutteringverbUS /ˈɡʌtərɪŋ/
-ing form of “gutter” — burn unsteadily, feebly, or low; flicker
From this reading There was no sign of the Lama, nor of Maitraya, and only one dim light was burning—a guttering candle set in a sconce under one of the arches.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Tall, specter-like figures, on the run, were carrying out loads and arranging them in a long row under the cloister.
LamanounUS /ˈlɑːmə/
a Tibetan or Mongolian priest of Lamaism
From this reading There was no sign of the Lama, nor of Maitraya, and only one dim light was burning—a guttering candle set in a sconce under one of the arches.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading There was no sign of the Lama, nor of Maitraya, and only one dim light was burning—a guttering candle set in a sconce under one of the arches.
loadsnounUS /loʊdz/
a large number or amount
From this reading Tall, specter-like figures, on the run, were carrying out loads and arranging them in a long row under the cloister.
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 Tall, specter-like figures, on the run, were carrying out loads and arranging them in a long row under the cloister.
Maitraya
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sign of the Lama, nor of Maitraya, and only one dim light was burning—a guttering candle set in a sconce under one of the arches.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE ROLL-CALL BY NIGHT.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no sign of the Lama, nor of Maitraya, and only one dim light was burning—a guttering candle set in a sconce under one of the arches.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading There was no sign of the Lama, nor of Maitraya, and only one dim light was burning—a guttering candle set in a sconce under one of the arches.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Tall, specter-like figures, on the run, were carrying out loads and arranging them in a long row under the cloister.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was no sign of the Lama, nor of Maitraya, and only one dim light was burning—a guttering candle set in a sconce under one of the arches.
and nothing more
From this reading There was no sign of the Lama, nor of Maitraya, and only one dim light was burning—a guttering candle set in a sconce under one of the arches.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Tall, specter-like figures, on the run, were carrying out loads and arranging them in a long row under the cloister.
purposefuladjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrpəsfəl/
serving as or indicating the existence of a purpose or goal
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
ROLL-CALL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ROLL-CALL BY NIGHT.
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading Tall, specter-like figures, on the run, were carrying out loads and arranging them in a long row under the cloister.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Tall, specter-like figures, on the run, were carrying out loads and arranging them in a long row under the cloister.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “They go!” said Dawa Tsering.
sconcenounUS /skɑːns/
a shelter or screen providing protection from enemy fire or from the weather
From this reading There was no sign of the Lama, nor of Maitraya, and only one dim light was burning—a guttering candle set in a sconce under one of the arches.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading There was no sign of the Lama, nor of Maitraya, and only one dim light was burning—a guttering candle set in a sconce under one of the arches.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading There was no sign of the Lama, nor of Maitraya, and only one dim light was burning—a guttering candle set in a sconce under one of the arches.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
specter-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tall, specter-like figures, on the run, were carrying out loads and arranging them in a long row under the cloister.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Tall, specter-like figures, on the run, were carrying out loads and arranging them in a long row under the cloister.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ROLL-CALL BY NIGHT.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Tall, specter-like figures, on the run, were carrying out loads and arranging them in a long row under the cloister.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “They go!” said Dawa Tsering.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
Tsering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They go!” said Dawa Tsering.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Tall, specter-like figures, on the run, were carrying out loads and arranging them in a long row under the cloister.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Tall, specter-like figures, on the run, were carrying out loads and arranging them in a long row under the cloister.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Within the courtyard there was not confusion but a silent flitting to and fro as purposeful and devoid of collision as the evening flight of bats.
