adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
banknounUS /bæŋk/
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
BEACHnounUS /biːtʃ/
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
cloudsnounUS /klaʊdz/
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
dawnnounUS /dɔːn/
the first light of day
From this reading It was the earliest dawn.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
deckedverbUS /dekt/
past form of “deck” — be beautiful to look at
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
dimadjectiveUS /dɪm/
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
earliestadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrliəst/
(comparative and superlative of “early”) more early than; most early
From this reading It was the earliest dawn.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
edgenounUS /edʒ/
the boundary of a surface
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
edgings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
fadingnounUS /ˈfeɪdɪŋ/
weakening in force or intensity
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
faintadjectiveUS /feɪnt/
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
fishermennounUS /ˈfɪʃərmɪn/
plural of “fisherman” — someone whose occupation is catching fish
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
fitfullyadverbUS /ˈfɪtfəli/
in a fitful manner
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
flightnounUS /flaɪt/
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
fourthnounUS /fɔːrθ/
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
graynounUS /ɡreɪ/
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
Hegiranoun
the flight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 which marked the beginning of the Muslim era; the Muslim calendar begins in that year
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
JOURNEYverbUS /ˈdʒɜːrni/
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
languidadjectiveUS /ˈlæŋɡwəd/
lacking spirit or liveliness
From this reading The tropical day seemed too languid to rise.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
lowerverbUS /ˈloʊər/
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
Martair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
mistyadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsti/
filled or abounding with fog or mist
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
monthnounUS /mʌnθ/
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
peaksnounUS /piːks/
plural of “peak” — the most extreme possible amount or value
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
piercedadjectiveUS /pɪrst/
having a hole cut through
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
pinknounUS /pɪŋk/
a light shade of red
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
purplenounUS /ˈpɜːrpəl/
a purple color or pigment
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
reckonedverbUS /ˈrekənd/
past form of “reckon” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
riseverbUS /raɪz/
move upward
From this reading The tropical day seemed too languid to rise.
risingadjectiveUS /ˈraɪzɪŋ/
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
ROUNDnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The tropical day seemed too languid to rise.
showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
SometimesadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
startingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtɪŋ/
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
TahitinounUS /təˈhiːti/
an island in the south Pacific; the most important island in French Polynesia; made famous by Robert Louis Stevenson and Paul Gauguin
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
Tamai
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
thusadverbUS /ðʌs/
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The tropical day seemed too languid to rise.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The tropical day seemed too languid to rise.
tropicaladjectiveUS /ˈtrɑːpɪkəl/
relating to or situated in or characteristic of the tropics (the region on either side of the equator)
From this reading The tropical day seemed too languid to rise.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
valleynounUS /ˈvæli/
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE JOURNEY ROUND THE BEACH It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
