Chapter IX · A Letter and Its Reply

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

From this reading He felt easier and freer now that he was once more alone, and the spectacle of the beginning of the storm was a relief to him.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

Having no one else present.

From this reading He felt easier and freer now that he was once more alone, and the spectacle of the beginning of the storm was a relief to him.

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

From this reading He felt easier and freer now that he was once more alone, and the spectacle of the beginning of the storm was a relief to him.

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

From this reading The old trees waved and creaked in the blast, the rustling of the leaves, the crashing of boughs, and the moaning of the wind were as music in his ears.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Egon stood at his open window.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading He felt easier and freer now that he was once more alone, and the spectacle of the beginning of the storm was a relief to him.

make a strident sound

From this reading The old trees waved and creaked in the blast, the rustling of the leaves, the crashing of boughs, and the moaning of the wind were as music in his ears.

plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree

From this reading The old trees waved and creaked in the blast, the rustling of the leaves, the crashing of boughs, and the moaning of the wind were as music in his ears.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading If only some ray of light could illumine the darkness within him, as the lightning's play lit up the world without!

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

informal intensifiers

From this reading The old trees waved and creaked in the blast, the rustling of the leaves, the crashing of boughs, and the moaning of the wind were as music in his ears.

past form of “creak” — make a high-pitched, screeching noise

From this reading The old trees waved and creaked in the blast, the rustling of the leaves, the crashing of boughs, and the moaning of the wind were as music in his ears.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading If only some ray of light could illumine the darkness within him, as the lightning's play lit up the world without!

amazingly impressive; suggestive of the flashing of lightning

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading The old trees waved and creaked in the blast, the rustling of the leaves, the crashing of boughs, and the moaning of the wind were as music in his ears.

comparative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading He felt easier and freer now that he was once more alone, and the spectacle of the beginning of the storm was a relief to him.

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

From this reading Egon stood at his open window.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading He felt easier and freer now that he was once more alone, and the spectacle of the beginning of the storm was a relief to him.

plural of “flash” — a sudden intense burst of radiant energy

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

comparative of “free” — not limited or hampered; not under compulsion or restraint

From this reading He felt easier and freer now that he was once more alone, and the spectacle of the beginning of the storm was a relief to him.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

a state of partial or total darkness

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

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

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He felt easier and freer now that he was once more alone, and the spectacle of the beginning of the storm was a relief to him.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He felt easier and freer now that he was once more alone, and the spectacle of the beginning of the storm was a relief to him.

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

From this reading Egon stood at his open window.

the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If only some ray of light could illumine the darkness within him, as the lightning's play lit up the world without!

make lighter or brighter

From this reading If only some ray of light could illumine the darkness within him, as the lightning's play lit up the world without!

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

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading The old trees waved and creaked in the blast, the rustling of the leaves, the crashing of boughs, and the moaning of the wind were as music in his ears.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading If only some ray of light could illumine the darkness within him, as the lightning's play lit up the world without!

abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

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

From this reading If only some ray of light could illumine the darkness within him, as the lightning's play lit up the world without!

provided with artificial light

From this reading If only some ray of light could illumine the darkness within him, as the lightning's play lit up the world without!

-ing form of “moan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure

From this reading The old trees waved and creaked in the blast, the rustling of the leaves, the crashing of boughs, and the moaning of the wind were as music in his ears.

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

From this reading He felt easier and freer now that he was once more alone, and the spectacle of the beginning of the storm was a relief to him.

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading The old trees waved and creaked in the blast, the rustling of the leaves, the crashing of boughs, and the moaning of the wind were as music in his ears.

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

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading He felt easier and freer now that he was once more alone, and the spectacle of the beginning of the storm was a relief to him.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading The old trees waved and creaked in the blast, the rustling of the leaves, the crashing of boughs, and the moaning of the wind were as music in his ears.

on one occasion

From this reading He felt easier and freer now that he was once more alone, and the spectacle of the beginning of the storm was a relief to him.

and nothing more

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Egon stood at his open window.

participate in games or sport

From this reading If only some ray of light could illumine the darkness within him, as the lightning's play lit up the world without!

a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading If only some ray of light could illumine the darkness within him, as the lightning's play lit up the world without!

the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced

From this reading He felt easier and freer now that he was once more alone, and the spectacle of the beginning of the storm was a relief to him.

the stealing of cattle

From this reading The old trees waved and creaked in the blast, the rustling of the leaves, the crashing of boughs, and the moaning of the wind were as music in his ears.

plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading If only some ray of light could illumine the darkness within him, as the lightning's play lit up the world without!

something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)

From this reading He felt easier and freer now that he was once more alone, and the spectacle of the beginning of the storm was a relief to him.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Egon stood at his open window.

behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading He felt easier and freer now that he was once more alone, and the spectacle of the beginning of the storm was a relief to him.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He felt easier and freer now that he was once more alone, and the spectacle of the beginning of the storm was a relief to him.

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

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

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

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading The old trees waved and creaked in the blast, the rustling of the leaves, the crashing of boughs, and the moaning of the wind were as music in his ears.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading If only some ray of light could illumine the darkness within him, as the lightning's play lit up the world without!

having or as if having a veil or concealing cover

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

precisely as stated

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

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

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod

From this reading The old trees waved and creaked in the blast, the rustling of the leaves, the crashing of boughs, and the moaning of the wind were as music in his ears.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The old trees waved and creaked in the blast, the rustling of the leaves, the crashing of boughs, and the moaning of the wind were as music in his ears.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The heavy clouds which had veiled the horizon in the afternoon had slowly covered all the skies, the night was very dark, the gloom only broken from time to time by dazzling flashes of lightning.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading The old trees waved and creaked in the blast, the rustling of the leaves, the crashing of boughs, and the moaning of the wind were as music in his ears.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading Egon stood at his open window.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading If only some ray of light could illumine the darkness within him, as the lightning's play lit up the world without!

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading If only some ray of light could illumine the darkness within him, as the lightning's play lit up the world without!

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading If only some ray of light could illumine the darkness within him, as the lightning's play lit up the world without!