used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
aridadjectiveUS /ˈærəd/
lacking sufficient water or rainfall
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The open water too had a glassy look with a purple sheen in which the evening light lingered as if clinging to the water.
barrenadjectiveUS /ˈbærən/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
becalmedadjectiveUS /bɪˈkɑːmd/
rendered motionless for lack of wind
From this reading The sails of, a few becalmed feluccas looked rosy and cheerful, motionless in the gathering gloom.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind the massive shore the sky to the east was like darkening glass.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading The sails of, a few becalmed feluccas looked rosy and cheerful, motionless in the gathering gloom.
clingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading The open water too had a glassy look with a purple sheen in which the evening light lingered as if clinging to the water.
darkeningadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənɪŋ/
becoming dark or darker as from waning light or clouding over
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading Behind the massive shore the sky to the east was like darkening glass.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The open water too had a glassy look with a purple sheen in which the evening light lingered as if clinging to the water.
feluccas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sails of, a few becalmed feluccas looked rosy and cheerful, motionless in the gathering gloom.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The sails of, a few becalmed feluccas looked rosy and cheerful, motionless in the gathering gloom.
having the pinkish flush of health
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
frontsnounUS /frʌnts/
plural of “front” — the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading The sails of, a few becalmed feluccas looked rosy and cheerful, motionless in the gathering gloom.
GenoanounUS /ˈdʒenoʊə/
a seaport in northwestern Italy; provincial capital of Liguria
From this reading The winter sun was setting over the Gulf of Genoa.
ghostlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊstli/
resembling or characteristic of a phantom
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading Behind the massive shore the sky to the east was like darkening glass.
glassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡlæsi/
resembling glass in smoothness and shininess and slickness
From this reading The open water too had a glassy look with a purple sheen in which the evening light lingered as if clinging to the water.
glimmeringnounUS /ˈɡlɪmərɪŋ/
a slight suggestion or vague understanding
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading The sails of, a few becalmed feluccas looked rosy and cheerful, motionless in the gathering gloom.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
GulfnounUS /ɡʌlf/
an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay
From this reading The winter sun was setting over the Gulf of Genoa.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The open water too had a glassy look with a purple sheen in which the evening light lingered as if clinging to the water.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The open water too had a glassy look with a purple sheen in which the evening light lingered as if clinging to the water.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The open water too had a glassy look with a purple sheen in which the evening light lingered as if clinging to the water.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The open water too had a glassy look with a purple sheen in which the evening light lingered as if clinging to the water.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Behind the massive shore the sky to the east was like darkening glass.
lingeredverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡərd/
past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading The open water too had a glassy look with a purple sheen in which the evening light lingered as if clinging to the water.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The open water too had a glassy look with a purple sheen in which the evening light lingered as if clinging to the water.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The sails of, a few becalmed feluccas looked rosy and cheerful, motionless in the gathering gloom.
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading Behind the massive shore the sky to the east was like darkening glass.
not in physical motion
From this reading The sails of, a few becalmed feluccas looked rosy and cheerful, motionless in the gathering gloom.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The open water too had a glassy look with a purple sheen in which the evening light lingered as if clinging to the water.
outlinenounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪn/
the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The winter sun was setting over the Gulf of Genoa.
palacesnounUS /ˈpæləsəz/
plural of “palace” — a large and stately mansion
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading The open water too had a glassy look with a purple sheen in which the evening light lingered as if clinging to the water.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
ridgenounUS /rɪdʒ/
a long narrow natural elevation or striation
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
rosyadjectiveUS /ˈroʊzi/
reflecting optimism
From this reading The sails of, a few becalmed feluccas looked rosy and cheerful, motionless in the gathering gloom.
sailsnounUS /seɪlz/
plural of “sail” — a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
From this reading The sails of, a few becalmed feluccas looked rosy and cheerful, motionless in the gathering gloom.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading The winter sun was setting over the Gulf of Genoa.
sheennounUS /ʃiːn/
the visual property of something that shines with reflected light
From this reading The open water too had a glassy look with a purple sheen in which the evening light lingered as if clinging to the water.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Behind the massive shore the sky to the east was like darkening glass.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The winter sun was setting over the Gulf of Genoa.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Behind the massive shore the sky to the east was like darkening glass.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The open water too had a glassy look with a purple sheen in which the evening light lingered as if clinging to the water.
tracedverbUS /treɪst/
past form of “trace” — follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The winter sun was setting over the Gulf of Genoa.
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 The open water too had a glassy look with a purple sheen in which the evening light lingered as if clinging to the water.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The open water too had a glassy look with a purple sheen in which the evening light lingered as if clinging to the water.
belonging to which person
From this reading A deep red glow flushed the fronts of marble palaces piled up on the slope of an arid mountain whose barren ridge traced high on the darkening sky a ghostly and glimmering outline.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The winter sun was setting over the Gulf of Genoa.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The open water too had a glassy look with a purple sheen in which the evening light lingered as if clinging to the water.
