adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading “We are always quiet now,” she answered softly; “friends come and go, but we are very quiet.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “We are always quiet now,” she answered softly; “friends come and go, but we are very quiet.
answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “We are always quiet now,” she answered softly; “friends come and go, but we are very quiet.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “We are always quiet now,” she answered softly; “friends come and go, but we are very quiet.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “We are always quiet now,” she answered softly; “friends come and go, but we are very quiet.
cheeksnounUS /tʃiːks/
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “We are always quiet now,” she answered softly; “friends come and go, but we are very quiet.
cricketnounUS /ˈkrɪkət/
leaping insect; male makes chirping noises by rubbing the forewings together
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
Delano
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
differentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfərənt/
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It does me good to see you, Rosebud.”
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
fireflynounUS /ˈfaɪərflaɪ/
tropical American click beetle having bright luminous spots
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
friendnounUS /frend/
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
friendsnounUS /frendz/
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading “We are always quiet now,” she answered softly; “friends come and go, but we are very quiet.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
funeralnounUS /ˈfjuːnərəl/
a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “We are always quiet now,” she answered softly; “friends come and go, but we are very quiet.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading It does me good to see you, Rosebud.”
gownnounUS /ɡaʊn/
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
happilyadverbUS /ˈhæpəli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading “Does it?” her sweet eyes smiled happily.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It does me good to see you, Rosebud.”
librarynounUS /ˈlaɪbreriː/
a room where books are kept
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
lilynounUS /ˈlɪli/
any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It does me good to see you, Rosebud.”
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “We are always quiet now,” she answered softly; “friends come and go, but we are very quiet.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
oppositeadjectiveUS /ˈɑːpəzət/
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
perchedverbUS /pɜːrtʃt/
past form of “perch” — sit, as on a branch
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
RosenounUS /roʊz/
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
RosebudnounUS /ˈroʊzbəd/
the bud of a rose
From this reading It does me good to see you, Rosebud.”
rosyadjectiveUS /ˈroʊzi/
reflecting optimism
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
RuthnounUS /ruːθ/
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
seatingnounUS /ˈsiːtɪŋ/
an area that includes places where several people can sit
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It does me good to see you, Rosebud.”
sharpadjectiveUS /ʃɑːrp/
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “We are always quiet now,” she answered softly; “friends come and go, but we are very quiet.
shiningadjectiveUS /ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
smiledverbUS /smaɪld/
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading “Does it?” her sweet eyes smiled happily.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
softlyadverbUS /ˈsɔːftli/
with low volume
From this reading “We are always quiet now,” she answered softly; “friends come and go, but we are very quiet.
sombreadjective
lacking brightness or color; dull
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
sparklingadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːrklɪŋ/
shining with brilliant points of light like stars
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
sweetadjectiveUS /swiːt/
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading “Does it?” her sweet eyes smiled happily.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
ThursdaynounUS /ˈθɜːrzdeɪ/
the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It does me good to see you, Rosebud.”
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading “We are always quiet now,” she answered softly; “friends come and go, but we are very quiet.
walkingadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːkɪŋ/
close enough to be walked to
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
waningnounUS /ˈweɪnɪŋ/
a gradual decrease in magnitude or extent
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “We are always quiet now,” she answered softly; “friends come and go, but we are very quiet.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading They looked so different even in the waning light,--Ruth in soft black, her white face shining like a lily above her sombre gown, Rose, like a bright firefly, perched on a cricket, her cheeks rosy, her eyes sparkling from walking against the sharp, cold wind.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I thought you would be quiet at this hour,” said Rose Delano, seating herself opposite her friend in the library, the Thursday evening after the funeral.
