used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The two wings, stretching at right angles from the main building, formed a narrow court.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
anglesnounUS /ˈæŋɡəlz/
plural of “angle” — the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading The two wings, stretching at right angles from the main building, formed a narrow court.
marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence
From this reading The quiet, assured tread of disaster came nearer.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The two wings, stretching at right angles from the main building, formed a narrow court.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading The court was a sounding board.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The two wings, stretching at right angles from the main building, formed a narrow court.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The quiet, assured tread of disaster came nearer.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading The two wings, stretching at right angles from the main building, formed a narrow court.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
diffusedadjectiveUS /dɪˈfjuːzd/
(of light rays) subjected to scattering by reflection from a rough surface or transmission through a translucent material
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
disasternounUS /dɪˈzæstər/
a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
From this reading The quiet, assured tread of disaster came nearer.
facadenounUS /fəˈsɑːd/
the face or front of a building
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading The two wings, stretching at right angles from the main building, formed a narrow court.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The two wings, stretching at right angles from the main building, formed a narrow court.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
gratingnounUS /ˈɡreɪtɪŋ/
a barrier that has parallel or crossed bars blocking a passage but admitting air
From this reading She heard one of the windows opened with a grating noise.
harrying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading She heard one of the windows opened with a grating noise.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
most important element
From this reading The two wings, stretching at right angles from the main building, formed a narrow court.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The two wings, stretching at right angles from the main building, formed a narrow court.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading The quiet, assured tread of disaster came nearer.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading She heard one of the windows opened with a grating noise.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The quiet, assured tread of disaster came nearer.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She heard one of the windows opened with a grating noise.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading She heard one of the windows opened with a grating noise.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The quiet, assured tread of disaster came nearer.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
precisely, exactly
From this reading The two wings, stretching at right angles from the main building, formed a narrow court.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
soundingadjectiveUS /ˈsaʊndɪŋ/
appearing to be as specified; usually used as combining forms
From this reading The court was a sounding board.
spectraladjectiveUS /ˈspektrəl/
of or relating to a spectrum
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/
act of expanding by lengthening or widening
From this reading The two wings, stretching at right angles from the main building, formed a narrow court.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The quiet, assured tread of disaster came nearer.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
treadverbUS /tred/
put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading The quiet, assured tread of disaster came nearer.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two wings, stretching at right angles from the main building, formed a narrow court.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
belonging to which person
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
wingnounUS /wɪŋ/
a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
From this reading Clouds harrying the moon failed quite to destroy its power, so that she could see, across the court, the facade of the old wing and the two windows of the large room through whose curtains a spectral glow was diffused.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading The two wings, stretching at right angles from the main building, formed a narrow court.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She heard one of the windows opened with a grating noise.
