used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Through the red flame-days of October she danced before him, a tantalizing heart of thistledown.
at or in the front
From this reading If she settled, it was always well ahead.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading If she settled, it was always well ahead.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Through the red flame-days of October she danced before him, a tantalizing heart of thistledown.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
capricenounUS /kəˈpriːs/
a sudden desire
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
captureverbUS /ˈkæptʃər/
succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
past form of “dance” — move in a graceful and rhythmical way
From this reading Through the red flame-days of October she danced before him, a tantalizing heart of thistledown.
discussedverbUS /dɪˈskʌst/
past form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading They discussed love in generalizations--in terms of life, literature and the latest play.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They discussed very little else.
flame-days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the red flame-days of October she danced before him, a tantalizing heart of thistledown.
generalizationsnounUS /ˌdʒenərələˈzeɪʃənz/
plural of “generalization” — reasoning from detailed facts to general principles
From this reading They discussed love in generalizations--in terms of life, literature and the latest play.
hold firmly
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Through the red flame-days of October she danced before him, a tantalizing heart of thistledown.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Through the red flame-days of October she danced before him, a tantalizing heart of thistledown.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If she settled, it was always well ahead.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They discussed love in generalizations--in terms of life, literature and the latest play.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If she settled, it was always well ahead.
latestadjectiveUS /ˈleɪtəst/
up to the immediate present; most recent or most up-to-date
From this reading They discussed love in generalizations--in terms of life, literature and the latest play.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading They discussed love in generalizations--in terms of life, literature and the latest play.
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading They discussed love in generalizations--in terms of life, literature and the latest play.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They discussed very little else.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading They discussed love in generalizations--in terms of life, literature and the latest play.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
OctobernounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/
the month following September and preceding November
From this reading Through the red flame-days of October she danced before him, a tantalizing heart of thistledown.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Through the red flame-days of October she danced before him, a tantalizing heart of thistledown.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
participate in games or sport
From this reading They discussed love in generalizations--in terms of life, literature and the latest play.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Through the red flame-days of October she danced before him, a tantalizing heart of thistledown.
reticencenounUS /ˈretɪsəns/
the trait of being uncommunicative; not volunteering anything more than necessary
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading If she settled, it was always well ahead.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Through the red flame-days of October she danced before him, a tantalizing heart of thistledown.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
stoopedadjectiveUS /stuːpt/
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
sweepverbUS /swiːp/
sweep across or over
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
tantalizingadjectiveUS /ˈtæntəlaɪzɪŋ/
arousing desire or expectation for something unattainable or mockingly out of reach
From this reading Through the red flame-days of October she danced before him, a tantalizing heart of thistledown.
status with respect to the relations between people or groups
From this reading They discussed love in generalizations--in terms of life, literature and the latest play.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Through the red flame-days of October she danced before him, a tantalizing heart of thistledown.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They discussed love in generalizations--in terms of life, literature and the latest play.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
thistledownnoun
pappus of a thistle consisting of silky featherlike hairs attached to the seed-like fruit of a thistle
From this reading Through the red flame-days of October she danced before him, a tantalizing heart of thistledown.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the red flame-days of October she danced before him, a tantalizing heart of thistledown.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
precisely as stated
From this reading They discussed very little else.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If she settled, it was always well ahead.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading If she settled, it was always well ahead.
at the time that
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading When he came up with her and stooped, thinking her capture certain, some new breeze of caprice or reticence would sweep her beyond the reach of his grasp.
