AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Catapult and a Catastrophe "Oh, sweet pale Margaret, Oh, rare pale Margaret, What lit your eyes with tearful power?"
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Down behind the gum trees, across the river, there was a still whiter moon; a stretch of water near was beginning to smile up to it.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A Catapult and a Catastrophe "Oh, sweet pale Margaret, Oh, rare pale Margaret, What lit your eyes with tearful power?"
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Very slowly the grey, still light deepened, and a white star or two came out and blinked up away in the high, far heavens.
beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading Down behind the gum trees, across the river, there was a still whiter moon; a stretch of water near was beginning to smile up to it.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Down behind the gum trees, across the river, there was a still whiter moon; a stretch of water near was beginning to smile up to it.
blinkedverbUS /blɪŋkt/
past form of “blink” — briefly shut the eyes
From this reading Very slowly the grey, still light deepened, and a white star or two came out and blinked up away in the high, far heavens.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Very slowly the grey, still light deepened, and a white star or two came out and blinked up away in the high, far heavens.
CatapultverbUS /ˈkætəpʌlt/
shoot forth or launch, as if from a catapult
From this reading A Catapult and a Catastrophe "Oh, sweet pale Margaret, Oh, rare pale Margaret, What lit your eyes with tearful power?"
CatastrophenounUS /kəˈtæstrəfi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading A Catapult and a Catastrophe "Oh, sweet pale Margaret, Oh, rare pale Margaret, What lit your eyes with tearful power?"
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
deepenedverbUS /ˈdiːpənd/
past form of “deepen” — make more intense, stronger, or more marked
From this reading Very slowly the grey, still light deepened, and a white star or two came out and blinked up away in the high, far heavens.
DownadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Down behind the gum trees, across the river, there was a still whiter moon; a stretch of water near was beginning to smile up to it.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading The dusk had fallen very softly and tenderly over the garden, and the paddocks, and the river.
edgenounUS /edʒ/
the boundary of a surface
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading A Catapult and a Catastrophe "Oh, sweet pale Margaret, Oh, rare pale Margaret, What lit your eyes with tearful power?"
faintestadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪntəst/
superlative of “faint” — deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
fallenadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlən/
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The dusk had fallen very softly and tenderly over the garden, and the paddocks, and the river.
faradverbUS /fɑːr/
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Very slowly the grey, still light deepened, and a white star or two came out and blinked up away in the high, far heavens.
gardennounUS /ˈɡɑːrdən/
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading The dusk had fallen very softly and tenderly over the garden, and the paddocks, and the river.
greyadjectiveUS /ɡreɪ/
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading Very slowly the grey, still light deepened, and a white star or two came out and blinked up away in the high, far heavens.
gumnounUS /ɡʌm/
a preparation (usually made of sweetened chicle) for chewing
From this reading Down behind the gum trees, across the river, there was a still whiter moon; a stretch of water near was beginning to smile up to it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The dusk had fallen very softly and tenderly over the garden, and the paddocks, and the river.
heavensnounUS /ˈhevənz/
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading Very slowly the grey, still light deepened, and a white star or two came out and blinked up away in the high, far heavens.
highadjectiveUS /haɪ/
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Very slowly the grey, still light deepened, and a white star or two came out and blinked up away in the high, far heavens.
hotadjectiveUS /hɑːt/
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Very slowly the grey, still light deepened, and a white star or two came out and blinked up away in the high, far heavens.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Very slowly the grey, still light deepened, and a white star or two came out and blinked up away in the high, far heavens.
litadjectiveUS /lɪt/
provided with artificial light
From this reading A Catapult and a Catastrophe "Oh, sweet pale Margaret, Oh, rare pale Margaret, What lit your eyes with tearful power?"
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Catapult and a Catastrophe "Oh, sweet pale Margaret, Oh, rare pale Margaret, What lit your eyes with tearful power?"
moonnounUS /muːn/
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading Down behind the gum trees, across the river, there was a still whiter moon; a stretch of water near was beginning to smile up to it.
nearadverbUS /nɪr/
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Down behind the gum trees, across the river, there was a still whiter moon; a stretch of water near was beginning to smile up to it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Down behind the gum trees, across the river, there was a still whiter moon; a stretch of water near was beginning to smile up to it.
OhnounUS /oʊ/
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading A Catapult and a Catastrophe "Oh, sweet pale Margaret, Oh, rare pale Margaret, What lit your eyes with tearful power?"
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Very slowly the grey, still light deepened, and a white star or two came out and blinked up away in the high, far heavens.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Very slowly the grey, still light deepened, and a white star or two came out and blinked up away in the high, far heavens.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The dusk had fallen very softly and tenderly over the garden, and the paddocks, and the river.
paddocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dusk had fallen very softly and tenderly over the garden, and the paddocks, and the river.
paleadjectiveUS /peɪl/
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading A Catapult and a Catastrophe "Oh, sweet pale Margaret, Oh, rare pale Margaret, What lit your eyes with tearful power?"
powernounUS /ˈpaʊər/
possession of controlling influence
From this reading A Catapult and a Catastrophe "Oh, sweet pale Margaret, Oh, rare pale Margaret, What lit your eyes with tearful power?"
rareadjectiveUS /rer/
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading A Catapult and a Catastrophe "Oh, sweet pale Margaret, Oh, rare pale Margaret, What lit your eyes with tearful power?"
ripplesnounUS /ˈrɪpəlz/
plural of “ripple” — a small wave on the surface of a liquid
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The dusk had fallen very softly and tenderly over the garden, and the paddocks, and the river.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
slowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Very slowly the grey, still light deepened, and a white star or two came out and blinked up away in the high, far heavens.
smileverbUS /smaɪl/
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Down behind the gum trees, across the river, there was a still whiter moon; a stretch of water near was beginning to smile up to it.
softlyadverbUS /ˈsɔːftli/
with low volume
From this reading The dusk had fallen very softly and tenderly over the garden, and the paddocks, and the river.
starnounUS /stɑːr/
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Very slowly the grey, still light deepened, and a white star or two came out and blinked up away in the high, far heavens.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading Very slowly the grey, still light deepened, and a white star or two came out and blinked up away in the high, far heavens.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading Down behind the gum trees, across the river, there was a still whiter moon; a stretch of water near was beginning to smile up to it.
sweetadjectiveUS /swiːt/
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading A Catapult and a Catastrophe "Oh, sweet pale Margaret, Oh, rare pale Margaret, What lit your eyes with tearful power?"
tearfuladjectiveUS /ˈtɪrfəl/
filled with or marked by tears
From this reading A Catapult and a Catastrophe "Oh, sweet pale Margaret, Oh, rare pale Margaret, What lit your eyes with tearful power?"
tenderlyadverbUS /ˈtendərli/
with tenderness; in a tender manner
From this reading The dusk had fallen very softly and tenderly over the garden, and the paddocks, and the river.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The dusk had fallen very softly and tenderly over the garden, and the paddocks, and the river.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
treesnounUS /triːz/
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 Down behind the gum trees, across the river, there was a still whiter moon; a stretch of water near was beginning to smile up to it.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Very slowly the grey, still light deepened, and a white star or two came out and blinked up away in the high, far heavens.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Very slowly the grey, still light deepened, and a white star or two came out and blinked up away in the high, far heavens.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading The dusk had fallen very softly and tenderly over the garden, and the paddocks, and the river.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Down behind the gum trees, across the river, there was a still whiter moon; a stretch of water near was beginning to smile up to it.
watersnounUS /ˈwɔːtərz/
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A Catapult and a Catastrophe "Oh, sweet pale Margaret, Oh, rare pale Margaret, What lit your eyes with tearful power?"
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading Very slowly the grey, still light deepened, and a white star or two came out and blinked up away in the high, far heavens.
whiteradjectiveUS /ˈwaɪtər/
comparative of “white” — being of the achromatic color of maximum lightness; having little or no hue owing to reflection of almost all incident light
From this reading Down behind the gum trees, across the river, there was a still whiter moon; a stretch of water near was beginning to smile up to it.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading There was just the faintest wind at the waters edge, but it seemed almost too tired after the hot, long day to breathe and make ripples.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A Catapult and a Catastrophe "Oh, sweet pale Margaret, Oh, rare pale Margaret, What lit your eyes with tearful power?"
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading A Catapult and a Catastrophe "Oh, sweet pale Margaret, Oh, rare pale Margaret, What lit your eyes with tearful power?"
