Chapter XVIII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A LEAF OUT OF HIS OWN BOOK.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

characterized by intense emotion

From this reading She had had a few hours of exquisite happiness--the pure and perfect happiness of tender mutual love, that brings heaven down to earth for young, ardent hearts.

a mark to indicate a direction or relation

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

in an auspicious manner

From this reading What a cruel ending this was to the Christmas Day that had dawned so auspiciously upon her life.

exceptionally bad or displeasing

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading A LEAF OUT OF HIS OWN BOOK.

third-person singular of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading She had had a few hours of exquisite happiness--the pure and perfect happiness of tender mutual love, that brings heaven down to earth for young, ardent hearts.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading What a cruel ending this was to the Christmas Day that had dawned so auspiciously upon her life.

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

From this reading What a cruel ending this was to the Christmas Day that had dawned so auspiciously upon her life.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

past form of “dawn” — become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions

From this reading What a cruel ending this was to the Christmas Day that had dawned so auspiciously upon her life.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading What a cruel ending this was to the Christmas Day that had dawned so auspiciously upon her life.

a state in which all hope is lost or absent

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading She had had a few hours of exquisite happiness--the pure and perfect happiness of tender mutual love, that brings heaven down to earth for young, ardent hearts.

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading She had had a few hours of exquisite happiness--the pure and perfect happiness of tender mutual love, that brings heaven down to earth for young, ardent hearts.

the end of a word (a suffix or inflectional ending or final morpheme)

From this reading What a cruel ending this was to the Christmas Day that had dawned so auspiciously upon her life.

-ing form of “expire” — lose validity

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

intense or sharp

From this reading She had had a few hours of exquisite happiness--the pure and perfect happiness of tender mutual love, that brings heaven down to earth for young, ardent hearts.

opinion or judgment

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading She had had a few hours of exquisite happiness--the pure and perfect happiness of tender mutual love, that brings heaven down to earth for young, ardent hearts.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She had had a few hours of exquisite happiness--the pure and perfect happiness of tender mutual love, that brings heaven down to earth for young, ardent hearts.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Poor Geraldine! poor Geraldine!

plural of “glimpse” — a quick look

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy

From this reading She had had a few hours of exquisite happiness--the pure and perfect happiness of tender mutual love, that brings heaven down to earth for young, ardent hearts.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades

From this reading She had had a few hours of exquisite happiness--the pure and perfect happiness of tender mutual love, that brings heaven down to earth for young, ardent hearts.

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading She had had a few hours of exquisite happiness--the pure and perfect happiness of tender mutual love, that brings heaven down to earth for young, ardent hearts.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading What a cruel ending this was to the Christmas Day that had dawned so auspiciously upon her life.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading A LEAF OUT OF HIS OWN BOOK.

possessive form of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading She had had a few hours of exquisite happiness--the pure and perfect happiness of tender mutual love, that brings heaven down to earth for young, ardent hearts.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

a small island

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

immediately past

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading A LEAF OUT OF HIS OWN BOOK.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading What a cruel ending this was to the Christmas Day that had dawned so auspiciously upon her life.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading She had had a few hours of exquisite happiness--the pure and perfect happiness of tender mutual love, that brings heaven down to earth for young, ardent hearts.

Recollections of past events.

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

common to or shared by two or more parties

From this reading She had had a few hours of exquisite happiness--the pure and perfect happiness of tender mutual love, that brings heaven down to earth for young, ardent hearts.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A LEAF OUT OF HIS OWN BOOK.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading A LEAF OUT OF HIS OWN BOOK.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading A LEAF OUT OF HIS OWN BOOK.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading She had had a few hours of exquisite happiness--the pure and perfect happiness of tender mutual love, that brings heaven down to earth for young, ardent hearts.

a distinctive odor that is pleasant

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading Poor Geraldine! poor Geraldine!

free of extraneous elements of any kind

From this reading She had had a few hours of exquisite happiness--the pure and perfect happiness of tender mutual love, that brings heaven down to earth for young, ardent hearts.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She had had a few hours of exquisite happiness--the pure and perfect happiness of tender mutual love, that brings heaven down to earth for young, ardent hearts.

inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

an instance of visual perception

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading What a cruel ending this was to the Christmas Day that had dawned so auspiciously upon her life.

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading She had had a few hours of exquisite happiness--the pure and perfect happiness of tender mutual love, that brings heaven down to earth for young, ardent hearts.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading What a cruel ending this was to the Christmas Day that had dawned so auspiciously upon her life.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

a formal word for “on”

From this reading What a cruel ending this was to the Christmas Day that had dawned so auspiciously upon her life.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

having passed out of existence

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "As I came through the valley of Despair, As I came through the valley, on my sight, More awful than the darkness of the night, Shone glimpses of a past that had been fair, And memories of eyes that used to smile, And wafts of perfume from a vanished isle, And, like an arrow in my heart I heard The last faint notes of Hope's expiring bird, As I came through the valley."

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading What a cruel ending this was to the Christmas Day that had dawned so auspiciously upon her life.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What a cruel ending this was to the Christmas Day that had dawned so auspiciously upon her life.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading She had had a few hours of exquisite happiness--the pure and perfect happiness of tender mutual love, that brings heaven down to earth for young, ardent hearts.