used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A PICTISH HONEYMOON Stair Garland slept little that night.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He wondered whence they came and who had placed them there.
ceasingverbUS /ˈsiːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
cliffsnounUS /klɪfs/
plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading The pair of cows were company to him.
complainingadjectiveUS /kəmˈpleɪnɪŋ/
expressing pain or dissatisfaction of resentment
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
intentionally conceived
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
cowsnounUS /kaʊz/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading The pair of cows were company to him.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
drummingnounUS /ˈdrʌmɪŋ/
the act of playing drums
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
GarlandverbUS /ˈɡɑːrlənd/
adorn with bands of flowers or leaves
From this reading A PICTISH HONEYMOON Stair Garland slept little that night.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He wondered whence they came and who had placed them there.
hammeredadjectiveUS /ˈhæmərd/
shaped or worked with a hammer and often showing hammer marks
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The pair of cows were company to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
HONEYMOONnounUS /ˈhʌnimuːn/
a holiday taken by a newly married couple
From this reading A PICTISH HONEYMOON Stair Garland slept little that night.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
jostledverbUS /ˈdʒɑːsəld/
past form of “jostle” — make one's way by jostling, pushing, or shoving
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
ledgesnounUS /ˈledʒɪz/
plural of “ledge” — a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A PICTISH HONEYMOON Stair Garland slept little that night.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A PICTISH HONEYMOON Stair Garland slept little that night.
noisesnounUS /ˈnɔɪzɪz/
plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading The pair of cows were company to him.
perpetualadjectiveUS /pərˈpetʃuːəl/
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
PICTISH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PICTISH HONEYMOON Stair Garland slept little that night.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading He wondered whence they came and who had placed them there.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
reachesnounUS /ˈriːtʃəz/
plural of “reach” — the limits within which something can be effective
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
rockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading A PICTISH HONEYMOON Stair Garland slept little that night.
StairnounUS /ster/
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
From this reading A PICTISH HONEYMOON Stair Garland slept little that night.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A PICTISH HONEYMOON Stair Garland slept little that night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He wondered whence they came and who had placed them there.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wondered whence they came and who had placed them there.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
vaguelyadverbUS /ˈveɪɡli/
in a vague way
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading He wandered in the cool purple darkness here and there about the island, listening to the curious noises of the birds, complaining vaguely, or calling one to the other from the rocky ledges.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The pair of cows were company to him.
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading He wondered whence they came and who had placed them there.
which person or people
From this reading He wondered whence they came and who had placed them there.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He was conscious of the perpetual drumming of the sea in his ears, as the tide ran, jostled in the narrow reaches, and hammered without ceasing on the outer cliffs of the little island.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading He wondered whence they came and who had placed them there.
