used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The next moment, however, came a great gladness--a firefly, which had wandered in from the garden.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
alasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading But alas!
in addition
From this reading _out_ was very much like _in_, for the same enemy, the darkness, was here also.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But alas!
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The next moment, however, came a great gladness--a firefly, which had wandered in from the garden.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading _out_ was very much like _in_, for the same enemy, the darkness, was here also.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading She saw the tiny spark in the distance.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
ebbverbUS /eb/
flow back or recede
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
an opposing military force
From this reading _out_ was very much like _in_, for the same enemy, the darkness, was here also.
fireflynounUS /ˈfaɪərflaɪ/
tropical American click beetle having bright luminous spots
From this reading The next moment, however, came a great gladness--a firefly, which had wandered in from the garden.
moving swiftly
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading _out_ was very much like _in_, for the same enemy, the darkness, was here also.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The next moment, however, came a great gladness--a firefly, which had wandered in from the garden.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading The next moment, however, came a great gladness--a firefly, which had wandered in from the garden.
gladnessnoun
experiencing joy and pleasure
From this reading The next moment, however, came a great gladness--a firefly, which had wandered in from the garden.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The next moment, however, came a great gladness--a firefly, which had wandered in from the garden.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The next moment, however, came a great gladness--a firefly, which had wandered in from the garden.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading _out_ was very much like _in_, for the same enemy, the darkness, was here also.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The next moment, however, came a great gladness--a firefly, which had wandered in from the garden.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _out_ was very much like _in_, for the same enemy, the darkness, was here also.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading _out_ was very much like _in_, for the same enemy, the darkness, was here also.
a particular point in time
From this reading The next moment, however, came a great gladness--a firefly, which had wandered in from the garden.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading _out_ was very much like _in_, for the same enemy, the darkness, was here also.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next moment, however, came a great gladness--a firefly, which had wandered in from the garden.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading _out_ was very much like _in_, for the same enemy, the darkness, was here also.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
pulsingnounUS /ˈpʌlsɪŋ/
(electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
pushingnounUS /ˈpʊʃɪŋ/
the act of applying force in order to move something away
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
resemblesverbUS /rɪˈzembəlz/
third-person singular of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
Identical; not different.
From this reading _out_ was very much like _in_, for the same enemy, the darkness, was here also.
cut with a saw
From this reading She saw the tiny spark in the distance.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She saw the tiny spark in the distance.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
sparknounUS /spɑːrk/
a momentary flash of light
From this reading She saw the tiny spark in the distance.
swimmingnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/
the act of swimming
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _out_ was very much like _in_, for the same enemy, the darkness, was here also.
throbverbUS /θrɑːb/
pulsate or pound with abnormal force
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
very small
From this reading She saw the tiny spark in the distance.
precisely as stated
From this reading _out_ was very much like _in_, for the same enemy, the darkness, was here also.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading The next moment, however, came a great gladness--a firefly, which had wandered in from the garden.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _out_ was very much like _in_, for the same enemy, the darkness, was here also.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The next moment, however, came a great gladness--a firefly, which had wandered in from the garden.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With slow pulsing ebb and throb of light, it came pushing itself through the air, drawing nearer and nearer, with that motion which more resembles swimming than flying, and the light seemed the source of its own motion.
