used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading No character in this book was drawn from any actual person past or present.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading No character in this book was drawn from any actual person past or present.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The winter's twilight, as thick as blown smoke, was drifting through the Capitol Square.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
blownadjectiveUS /bloʊn/
being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor
From this reading The winter's twilight, as thick as blown smoke, was drifting through the Capitol Square.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading No character in this book was drawn from any actual person past or present.
boughsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
bronzenounUS /brɑːnz/
an alloy of copper and tin and sometimes other elements; also any copper-base alloy containing other elements in place of tin
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
the act of burning something
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
CapitolnounUS /ˈkæpɪtəl/
a building occupied by a state legislature
From this reading The winter's twilight, as thick as blown smoke, was drifting through the Capitol Square.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading No character in this book was drawn from any actual person past or present.
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 Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading No character in this book was drawn from any actual person past or present.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading The winter's twilight, as thick as blown smoke, was drifting through the Capitol Square.
fountainsnounUS /ˈfaʊntənz/
plural of “fountain” — a structure from which an artificially produced jet of water arises
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading No character in this book was drawn from any actual person past or present.
frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/
turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
glowingadjectiveUS /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/
highly enthusiastic
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "One man in his time plays many parts."
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "One man in his time plays many parts."
insubstantialadjectiveUS /ˌɪnsəbˈstænʃəl/
lacking material form or substance; unreal
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
irregularadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈreɡjələr/
contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
immediately past
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "One man in his time plays many parts."
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading "One man in his time plays many parts."
not any; not one
From this reading No character in this book was drawn from any actual person past or present.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "One man in his time plays many parts."
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading No character in this book was drawn from any actual person past or present.
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
the local environment
From this reading "One man in his time plays many parts."
the time that has elapsed
From this reading No character in this book was drawn from any actual person past or present.
a human being
From this reading No character in this book was drawn from any actual person past or present.
playsnounUS /pleɪz/
plural of “play” — a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
From this reading "One man in his time plays many parts."
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading No character in this book was drawn from any actual person past or present.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading The winter's twilight, as thick as blown smoke, was drifting through the Capitol Square.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
spiresnounUS /spaɪrz/
plural of “spire” — 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 Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
make square
From this reading The winter's twilight, as thick as blown smoke, was drifting through the Capitol Square.
not in physical motion
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
suffusedverbUS /səˈfjuːzd/
past form of “suffuse” — cause to spread or flush or flood through, over, or across
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
the rays of the sun
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The winter's twilight, as thick as blown smoke, was drifting through the Capitol Square.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The winter's twilight, as thick as blown smoke, was drifting through the Capitol Square.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading No character in this book was drawn from any actual person past or present.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The winter's twilight, as thick as blown smoke, was drifting through the Capitol Square.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "One man in his time plays many parts."
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading The winter's twilight, as thick as blown smoke, was drifting through the Capitol Square.
having passed out of existence
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
visionarynounUS /ˈvɪʒəneri/
a person given to fanciful speculations and enthusiasms with little regard for what is actually possible
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
walksnounUS /wɔːks/
plural of “walk” — the act of traveling by foot
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No character in this book was drawn from any actual person past or present.
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Over the head of the great bronze Washington a single last gleam of sunshine shot suddenly before it vanished amid the spires and chimneys of the city, which looked as visionary and insubstantial as the glowing horizon.
winter'snounUS /ˈwɪntərz/
possessive form of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The winter's twilight, as thick as blown smoke, was drifting through the Capitol Square.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Already the snow covered walks and the frozen fountains were in shadow; but beyond the irregular black boughs of the trees the sky was still suffused with the burning light of the sunset.
