adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was the saving brightness of a darkening hour.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mrs. Larkin died, and little Fay was left an orphan with no known relative.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
brightnessnounUS /ˈbraɪtnəs/
the location of a visual perception along a continuum from black to white
From this reading It was the saving brightness of a darkening hour.
childishadjectiveUS /ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ/
indicating a lack of maturity
From this reading Fay turned now to Jane in childish worship.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
cloudyadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdi/
lacking definite form or limits
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
darkeningadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənɪŋ/
becoming dark or darker as from waning light or clouding over
From this reading It was the saving brightness of a darkening hour.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
diedverbUS /daɪd/
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Mrs. Larkin died, and little Fay was left an orphan with no known relative.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
FaynounUS /feɪ/
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading Mrs. Larkin died, and little Fay was left an orphan with no known relative.
gatheringnounUS /ˈɡæðərɪŋ/
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It was the saving brightness of a darkening hour.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the saving brightness of a darkening hour.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
Jane's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jane’s love redoubled.
knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Mrs. Larkin died, and little Fay was left an orphan with no known relative.
Larkin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Larkin died, and little Fay was left an orphan with no known relative.
leftnounUS /left/
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 Mrs. Larkin died, and little Fay was left an orphan with no known relative.
lengthenedadjectiveUS /ˈleŋθənd/
drawn out or made longer spatially
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
likenedverbUS /ˈlaɪkənd/
past form of “liken” — consider or describe as similar, equal, or analogous
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Mrs. Larkin died, and little Fay was left an orphan with no known relative.
lovenounUS /lʌv/
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Jane’s love redoubled.
MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Larkin died, and little Fay was left an orphan with no known relative.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Mrs. Larkin died, and little Fay was left an orphan with no known relative.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Fay turned now to Jane in childish worship.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the saving brightness of a darkening hour.
ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
orphannounUS /ˈɔːrfən/
a child who has lost both parents
From this reading Mrs. Larkin died, and little Fay was left an orphan with no known relative.
redoubledadjectiveUS /riˈdʌbəld/
become much greater in intensity or size or amount
From this reading Jane’s love redoubled.
relativenounUS /ˈrelətɪv/
a person related by blood or marriage
From this reading Mrs. Larkin died, and little Fay was left an orphan with no known relative.
SAGE-SLOPE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
savingnounUS /ˈseɪvɪŋ/
an act of economizing; reduction in cost
From this reading It was the saving brightness of a darkening hour.
SHADOWSnounUS /ˈʃædoʊz/
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
summernounUS /ˈsʌmər/
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Fay turned now to Jane in childish worship.
waningnounUS /ˈweɪnɪŋ/
a gradual decrease in magnitude or extent
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Larkin died, and little Fay was left an orphan with no known relative.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mrs. Larkin died, and little Fay was left an orphan with no known relative.
Withersteen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHADOWS ON THE SAGE-SLOPE In the cloudy, threatening, waning summer days shadows lengthened down the sage-slope, and Jane Withersteen likened them to the shadows gathering and closing in around her life.
worshipverbUS /ˈwɜːrʃəp/
love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol
From this reading Fay turned now to Jane in childish worship.
