used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
(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 COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
aspennounUS /ˈæspən/
any of several trees of the genus Populus having leaves on flattened stalks so that they flutter in the lightest wind
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The windows of one side were blank, but behind the library shade the bulbous lamp still drowsed like a monster glow-worm.
blankadjectiveUS /blæŋk/
(of a surface) not written or printed on
From this reading The windows of one side were blank, but behind the library shade the bulbous lamp still drowsed like a monster glow-worm.
blossomsnounUS /ˈblɑːsəmz/
plural of “blossom” — reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Save for the one bright pane, there seemed now no life or movement in the house.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
bulbousadjectiveUS /ˈbʌlbəs/
shaped like a bulb
From this reading The windows of one side were blank, but behind the library shade the bulbous lamp still drowsed like a monster glow-worm.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The windows of one side were blank, but behind the library shade the bulbous lamp still drowsed like a monster glow-worm.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
drowsed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows of one side were blank, but behind the library shade the bulbous lamp still drowsed like a monster glow-worm.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Save for the one bright pane, there seemed now no life or movement in the house.
fragrancenounUS /ˈfreɪɡrəns/
a distinctive odor that is pleasant
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
ghostlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊstli/
resembling or characteristic of a phantom
From this reading In its placid radiance the white house loomed in a ghostly pallor.
glow-worm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows of one side were blank, but behind the library shade the bulbous lamp still drowsed like a monster glow-worm.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading In its placid radiance the white house loomed in a ghostly pallor.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In its placid radiance the white house loomed in a ghostly pallor.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In its placid radiance the white house loomed in a ghostly pallor.
jasmin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The windows of one side were blank, but behind the library shade the bulbous lamp still drowsed like a monster glow-worm.
landscapenounUS /ˈlændskeɪp/
an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
a room where books are kept
From this reading The windows of one side were blank, but behind the library shade the bulbous lamp still drowsed like a monster glow-worm.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Save for the one bright pane, there seemed now no life or movement in the house.
liftingverbUS /ˈlɪftɪŋ/
-ing form of “lift” — raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
loomedverbUS /luːmd/
past form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading In its placid radiance the white house loomed in a ghostly pallor.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
monsternounUS /ˈmɑːnstər/
an imaginary creature usually having various human and animal parts
From this reading The windows of one side were blank, but behind the library shade the bulbous lamp still drowsed like a monster glow-worm.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading Save for the one bright pane, there seemed now no life or movement in the house.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
not any; not one
From this reading Save for the one bright pane, there seemed now no life or movement in the house.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Save for the one bright pane, there seemed now no life or movement in the house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The windows of one side were blank, but behind the library shade the bulbous lamp still drowsed like a monster glow-worm.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Save for the one bright pane, there seemed now no life or movement in the house.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
pallornoun
unnatural lack of color in the skin (as from bruising or sickness or emotional distress)
From this reading In its placid radiance the white house loomed in a ghostly pallor.
panenounUS /peɪn/
sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors
From this reading Save for the one bright pane, there seemed now no life or movement in the house.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
placidadjectiveUS /ˈplæsəd/
(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
From this reading In its placid radiance the white house loomed in a ghostly pallor.
PRODIGALnounUS /ˈprɑːdɪɡəl/
a recklessly extravagant consumer
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
radiancenounUS /ˈreɪdiːəns/
the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface
From this reading In its placid radiance the white house loomed in a ghostly pallor.
rose-trellis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
except for; apart from
From this reading Save for the one bright pane, there seemed now no life or movement in the house.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Save for the one bright pane, there seemed now no life or movement in the house.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading The windows of one side were blank, but behind the library shade the bulbous lamp still drowsed like a monster glow-worm.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The windows of one side were blank, but behind the library shade the bulbous lamp still drowsed like a monster glow-worm.
silvered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
not in physical motion
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Save for the one bright pane, there seemed now no life or movement in the house.
topsadjectiveUS /tɑːps/
of the highest quality
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
precisely as stated
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE COMING OF A PRODIGAL The later night was very still and the moon, lifting like a paper lantern over the aspen tops, silvered all the landscape.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The windows of one side were blank, but behind the library shade the bulbous lamp still drowsed like a monster glow-worm.
a Caucasian
From this reading In its placid radiance the white house loomed in a ghostly pallor.
belonging to which person
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The windows of one side were blank, but behind the library shade the bulbous lamp still drowsed like a monster glow-worm.
in the company of; together with
From this reading From the shadowy side of the building stretched a narrow L, its front covered by a rose-trellis, whose pale blossoms in the soft night air mingled their delicate fragrance with that of the jasmin.
