used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE DARKNESS It was a fitful night; one on which the clouds travelled swiftly.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At times, though, despite the brightness of the moon, his eyes saw dimly.
breakwaters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was sufficient light for Masters to find his way over the breakwaters without stumbling.
brightnessnounUS /ˈbraɪtnəs/
the location of a visual perception along a continuum from black to white
From this reading One moment the brightness of a silvering moon; the next comparative darkness.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE DARKNESS It was a fitful night; one on which the clouds travelled swiftly.
comparativeadjectiveUS /kəmˈperətɪv/
relating to or based on or involving comparison
From this reading One moment the brightness of a silvering moon; the next comparative darkness.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE DARKNESS It was a fitful night; one on which the clouds travelled swiftly.
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading At times, though, despite the brightness of the moon, his eyes saw dimly.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading At times, though, despite the brightness of the moon, his eyes saw dimly.
extinguishersnounUS /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃərz/
plural of “extinguisher” — a manually operated device for extinguishing small fires
From this reading When the extinguishers hid the lamp of night, the illumination of the heavens was left to the stars.
opinion or judgment
From this reading At times, though, despite the brightness of the moon, his eyes saw dimly.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading There was sufficient light for Masters to find his way over the breakwaters without stumbling.
fitfuladjectiveUS /ˈfɪtfəl/
occurring in spells and often abruptly
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE DARKNESS It was a fitful night; one on which the clouds travelled swiftly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was sufficient light for Masters to find his way over the breakwaters without stumbling.
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading When the extinguishers hid the lamp of night, the illumination of the heavens was left to the stars.
inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading When the extinguishers hid the lamp of night, the illumination of the heavens was left to the stars.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was sufficient light for Masters to find his way over the breakwaters without stumbling.
illuminationnounUS /ˌɪluːməˈneɪʃən/
a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination
From this reading When the extinguishers hid the lamp of night, the illumination of the heavens was left to the stars.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE DARKNESS It was a fitful night; one on which the clouds travelled swiftly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE DARKNESS It was a fitful night; one on which the clouds travelled swiftly.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading When the extinguishers hid the lamp of night, the illumination of the heavens was left to the stars.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading When the extinguishers hid the lamp of night, the illumination of the heavens was left to the stars.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading There was sufficient light for Masters to find his way over the breakwaters without stumbling.
MastersnounUS /ˈmæstərz/
United States poet (1869-1950)
From this reading There was sufficient light for Masters to find his way over the breakwaters without stumbling.
a particular point in time
From this reading One moment the brightness of a silvering moon; the next comparative darkness.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading One moment the brightness of a silvering moon; the next comparative darkness.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading One moment the brightness of a silvering moon; the next comparative darkness.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE DARKNESS It was a fitful night; one on which the clouds travelled swiftly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One moment the brightness of a silvering moon; the next comparative darkness.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE DARKNESS It was a fitful night; one on which the clouds travelled swiftly.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE DARKNESS It was a fitful night; one on which the clouds travelled swiftly.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading There was sufficient light for Masters to find his way over the breakwaters without stumbling.
cut with a saw
From this reading At times, though, despite the brightness of the moon, his eyes saw dimly.
silvering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One moment the brightness of a silvering moon; the next comparative darkness.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading When the extinguishers hid the lamp of night, the illumination of the heavens was left to the stars.
stumblingverbUS /ˈstʌmbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily
From this reading There was sufficient light for Masters to find his way over the breakwaters without stumbling.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading There was sufficient light for Masters to find his way over the breakwaters without stumbling.
in a swift manner
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE DARKNESS It was a fitful night; one on which the clouds travelled swiftly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE DARKNESS It was a fitful night; one on which the clouds travelled swiftly.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was sufficient light for Masters to find his way over the breakwaters without stumbling.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading At times, though, despite the brightness of the moon, his eyes saw dimly.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading At times, though, despite the brightness of the moon, his eyes saw dimly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the extinguishers hid the lamp of night, the illumination of the heavens was left to the stars.
travelledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
familiar with many parts of the world
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE DARKNESS It was a fitful night; one on which the clouds travelled swiftly.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE DARKNESS It was a fitful night; one on which the clouds travelled swiftly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE DARKNESS It was a fitful night; one on which the clouds travelled swiftly.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading There was sufficient light for Masters to find his way over the breakwaters without stumbling.
at the time that
From this reading When the extinguishers hid the lamp of night, the illumination of the heavens was left to the stars.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE DARKNESS It was a fitful night; one on which the clouds travelled swiftly.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading There was sufficient light for Masters to find his way over the breakwaters without stumbling.
