used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Outside the foliage rustled a little in the wind.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The night was very still, and through the latticed windows stole faintly the summer moonlight.
react verbally
From this reading A night-jar called from the fields, and a secret, furry owl made answer from the copse beyond.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading A night-jar called from the fields, and a secret, furry owl made answer from the copse beyond.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading The body of the chamber lay in thick darkness, but a slanting ray of moonlight caught the dressing-table and shone temptingly upon the silver objects.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The body of the chamber lay in thick darkness, but a slanting ray of moonlight caught the dressing-table and shone temptingly upon the silver objects.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A night-jar called from the fields, and a secret, furry owl made answer from the copse beyond.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading The body of the chamber lay in thick darkness, but a slanting ray of moonlight caught the dressing-table and shone temptingly upon the silver objects.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading The body of the chamber lay in thick darkness, but a slanting ray of moonlight caught the dressing-table and shone temptingly upon the silver objects.
copsenoun
a dense growth of bushes
From this reading A night-jar called from the fields, and a secret, furry owl made answer from the copse beyond.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The body of the chamber lay in thick darkness, but a slanting ray of moonlight caught the dressing-table and shone temptingly upon the silver objects.
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
dressing-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The body of the chamber lay in thick darkness, but a slanting ray of moonlight caught the dressing-table and shone temptingly upon the silver objects.
faintlyadverbUS /ˈfeɪntli/
to a faint degree or weakly perceived
From this reading The night was very still, and through the latticed windows stole faintly the summer moonlight.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading A night-jar called from the fields, and a secret, furry owl made answer from the copse beyond.
foliagenounUS /ˈfoʊlɪdʒ/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Outside the foliage rustled a little in the wind.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A night-jar called from the fields, and a secret, furry owl made answer from the copse beyond.
furryadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːri/
covered with a dense coat of fine silky hairs
From this reading A night-jar called from the fields, and a secret, furry owl made answer from the copse beyond.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Outside the foliage rustled a little in the wind.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
jerkverbUS /dʒɜːrk/
pull, or move with a sudden movement
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
keenlyadverbUS /ˈkiːnli/
in a keen or penetrating way
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
immediately past
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
latticedadjective
having a pattern of fretwork or latticework
From this reading The night was very still, and through the latticed windows stole faintly the summer moonlight.
the sound of laughing
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The body of the chamber lay in thick darkness, but a slanting ray of moonlight caught the dressing-table and shone temptingly upon the silver objects.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Outside the foliage rustled a little in the wind.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A night-jar called from the fields, and a secret, furry owl made answer from the copse beyond.
the light of the Moon
From this reading The night was very still, and through the latticed windows stole faintly the summer moonlight.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The night was very still, and through the latticed windows stole faintly the summer moonlight.
night-jar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A night-jar called from the fields, and a secret, furry owl made answer from the copse beyond.
nightline
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
plural of “object” — a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading The body of the chamber lay in thick darkness, but a slanting ray of moonlight caught the dressing-table and shone temptingly upon the silver objects.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The body of the chamber lay in thick darkness, but a slanting ray of moonlight caught the dressing-table and shone temptingly upon the silver objects.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Outside the foliage rustled a little in the wind.
owlnounUS /aʊl/
nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading A night-jar called from the fields, and a secret, furry owl made answer from the copse beyond.
raynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading The body of the chamber lay in thick darkness, but a slanting ray of moonlight caught the dressing-table and shone temptingly upon the silver objects.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
rustled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside the foliage rustled a little in the wind.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading A night-jar called from the fields, and a secret, furry owl made answer from the copse beyond.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading The body of the chamber lay in thick darkness, but a slanting ray of moonlight caught the dressing-table and shone temptingly upon the silver objects.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading The body of the chamber lay in thick darkness, but a slanting ray of moonlight caught the dressing-table and shone temptingly upon the silver objects.
slantingadjectiveUS /ˈslæntɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading The body of the chamber lay in thick darkness, but a slanting ray of moonlight caught the dressing-table and shone temptingly upon the silver objects.
not in physical motion
From this reading The night was very still, and through the latticed windows stole faintly the summer moonlight.
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading The night was very still, and through the latticed windows stole faintly the summer moonlight.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The night was very still, and through the latticed windows stole faintly the summer moonlight.
temptinglyadverb
in a tempting seductive manner
From this reading The body of the chamber lay in thick darkness, but a slanting ray of moonlight caught the dressing-table and shone temptingly upon the silver objects.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The night was very still, and through the latticed windows stole faintly the summer moonlight.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The body of the chamber lay in thick darkness, but a slanting ray of moonlight caught the dressing-table and shone temptingly upon the silver objects.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The night was very still, and through the latticed windows stole faintly the summer moonlight.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The body of the chamber lay in thick darkness, but a slanting ray of moonlight caught the dressing-table and shone temptingly upon the silver objects.
precisely as stated
From this reading The night was very still, and through the latticed windows stole faintly the summer moonlight.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The night was very still, and through the latticed windows stole faintly the summer moonlight.
at the time that
From this reading “It’s like setting a nightline,” was the last definite thought he remembered--when the laughter that followed stopped suddenly, and his nerves gave a jerk that turned him keenly alert.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Outside the foliage rustled a little in the wind.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The night was very still, and through the latticed windows stole faintly the summer moonlight.
