used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Peter loafed against a spruce post, and moodily contemplated the stamping animals in the enclosure.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Peter loafed against a spruce post, and moodily contemplated the stamping animals in the enclosure.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Hazy in the green-and-purple distance could be glimpsed the yellow withers of the western range.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
braziersnounUS /ˈbreɪʒərz/
plural of “brazier” — large metal container in which coal or charcoal is burned; warms people who must stay outside for long times
From this reading Cooking smells, the sour odor of fish-and-rice chow, were wafted from the braziers of village housewives.
bricksnounUS /brɪks/
plural of “brick” — rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
bulgingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌldʒɪŋ/
curving or bulging outward
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
chownounUS /tʃaʊ/
the imperial dynasty of China from 1122 to 221 BC; notable for the rise of Confucianism and Taoism
From this reading Cooking smells, the sour odor of fish-and-rice chow, were wafted from the braziers of village housewives.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading The sky was clearing.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
contemplatedverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪd/
past form of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
From this reading Peter loafed against a spruce post, and moodily contemplated the stamping animals in the enclosure.
CookingnounUS /ˈkʊkɪŋ/
the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat
From this reading Cooking smells, the sour odor of fish-and-rice chow, were wafted from the braziers of village housewives.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Hazy in the green-and-purple distance could be glimpsed the yellow withers of the western range.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrt.jɑːrd/
An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by the walls of a house.
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Hazy in the green-and-purple distance could be glimpsed the yellow withers of the western range.
drippingnounUS /ˈdrɪpɪŋ/
a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house)
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
enclosurenounUS /enˈkloʊʒər/
a structure consisting of an area that has been enclosed for some purpose
From this reading Peter loafed against a spruce post, and moodily contemplated the stamping animals in the enclosure.
fish-and-rice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cooking smells, the sour odor of fish-and-rice chow, were wafted from the braziers of village housewives.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
glimpsedverbUS /ɡlɪmpst/
past form of “glimpse” — catch a glimpse of or see briefly
From this reading Hazy in the green-and-purple distance could be glimpsed the yellow withers of the western range.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
green-and-purple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hazy in the green-and-purple distance could be glimpsed the yellow withers of the western range.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
HazyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪzi/
filled or abounding with fog or mist
From this reading Hazy in the green-and-purple distance could be glimpsed the yellow withers of the western range.
housewivesnounUS /ˈhaʊswaɪvz/
plural of “housewife” — a wife who manages a household while her husband earns the family income
From this reading Cooking smells, the sour odor of fish-and-rice chow, were wafted from the braziers of village housewives.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hazy in the green-and-purple distance could be glimpsed the yellow withers of the western range.
a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
loafed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter loafed against a spruce post, and moodily contemplated the stamping animals in the enclosure.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
moodilyadverb
in a moody manner
From this reading Peter loafed against a spruce post, and moodily contemplated the stamping animals in the enclosure.
odornounUS /ˈoʊdər/
any property detected by the olfactory system
From this reading Cooking smells, the sour odor of fish-and-rice chow, were wafted from the braziers of village housewives.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
a course of conduct
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading Peter loafed against a spruce post, and moodily contemplated the stamping animals in the enclosure.
piercedadjectiveUS /pɪrst/
having a hole cut through
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading Peter loafed against a spruce post, and moodily contemplated the stamping animals in the enclosure.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading Hazy in the green-and-purple distance could be glimpsed the yellow withers of the western range.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
rodnounUS /rɑːd/
a long thin implement made of metal or wood
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The sky was clearing.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
smellsnounUS /smelz/
plural of “smell” — the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading Cooking smells, the sour odor of fish-and-rice chow, were wafted from the braziers of village housewives.
sourverbUS /ˈsaʊər/
go sour or spoil
From this reading Cooking smells, the sour odor of fish-and-rice chow, were wafted from the braziers of village housewives.
sprucenounUS /spruːs/
light soft moderately strong wood of spruce trees; used especially for timbers and millwork
From this reading Peter loafed against a spruce post, and moodily contemplated the stamping animals in the enclosure.
stampingverbUS /ˈstæmpɪŋ/
-ing form of “stamp” — walk heavily
From this reading Peter loafed against a spruce post, and moodily contemplated the stamping animals in the enclosure.
the rays of the sun
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sky was clearing.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Rain had ceased dripping from the bulging black clouds, and a slender rod of golden sunlight pierced through and marked a path upon the red bricks of the inn courtyard.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading Cooking smells, the sour odor of fish-and-rice chow, were wafted from the braziers of village housewives.
waftedverbUS /ˈwɑːftɪd/
past form of “waft” — be driven or carried along, as by the air
From this reading Cooking smells, the sour odor of fish-and-rice chow, were wafted from the braziers of village housewives.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sky was clearing.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Cooking smells, the sour odor of fish-and-rice chow, were wafted from the braziers of village housewives.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading Hazy in the green-and-purple distance could be glimpsed the yellow withers of the western range.
withersnounUS /ˈwɪðərz/
the highest part of the back at the base of the neck of various animals especially draft animals
From this reading Hazy in the green-and-purple distance could be glimpsed the yellow withers of the western range.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading Hazy in the green-and-purple distance could be glimpsed the yellow withers of the western range.
