used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
ambernounUS /ˈæmbər/
a deep yellow color
From this reading A shadow occasionally flickered through the amber haze--an exploring bat.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A shadow occasionally flickered through the amber haze--an exploring bat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Krishna of the Ruby Eyes, an idol known far and wide but seen by few.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
batnounUS /bæt/
nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation by which they navigate
From this reading A shadow occasionally flickered through the amber haze--an exploring bat.
BEHINDprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
blownadjectiveUS /bloʊn/
being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
brassnounUS /bræs/
an alloy of copper and zinc
From this reading The burning temple lamps of brass emphasized the darkness of the room rather than dispelled it.
the act of burning something
From this reading The burning temple lamps of brass emphasized the darkness of the room rather than dispelled it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Krishna of the Ruby Eyes, an idol known far and wide but seen by few.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
coalsnounUS /koʊlz/
plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
converseverbUS /ˈkɑːnvərs/
carry on a conversation
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
CURTAINSnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The burning temple lamps of brass emphasized the darkness of the room rather than dispelled it.
wanted intensely
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
dispelledverbUS /dɪˈspeld/
inflected form of “dispel” — force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings
From this reading The burning temple lamps of brass emphasized the darkness of the room rather than dispelled it.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
emphasizedadjectiveUS /ˈemfəsaɪzd/
spoken with emphasis
From this reading The burning temple lamps of brass emphasized the darkness of the room rather than dispelled it.
especialadjectiveUS /əˈspeʃəl/
surpassing what is common or usual or expected
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
exploringverbUS /ɪkˈsplɔːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “explore” — inquire into
From this reading A shadow occasionally flickered through the amber haze--an exploring bat.
opinion or judgment
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The Krishna of the Ruby Eyes, an idol known far and wide but seen by few.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The Krishna of the Ruby Eyes, an idol known far and wide but seen by few.
flickeredverbUS /ˈflɪkərd/
past form of “flicker” — move back and forth very rapidly
From this reading A shadow occasionally flickered through the amber haze--an exploring bat.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
hazenounUS /heɪz/
atmospheric moisture or dust or smoke that causes reduced visibility
From this reading A shadow occasionally flickered through the amber haze--an exploring bat.
idolnounUS /ˈaɪdəl/
a material effigy that is worshipped
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The burning temple lamps of brass emphasized the darkness of the room rather than dispelled it.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading The Krishna of the Ruby Eyes, an idol known far and wide but seen by few.
KrishnanounUS /ˈkrɪʃnə/
8th and most important avatar of Vishnu; incarnated as a handsome young man playing a flute
From this reading The Krishna of the Ruby Eyes, an idol known far and wide but seen by few.
lampsnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The burning temple lamps of brass emphasized the darkness of the room rather than dispelled it.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading A shadow occasionally flickered through the amber haze--an exploring bat.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
many times at short intervals
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
priestsnounUS /priːsts/
plural of “priest” — a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
privatelyadverbUS /ˈpraɪvətli/
kept private or confined to those intimately concerned
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
on the contrary
From this reading The burning temple lamps of brass emphasized the darkness of the room rather than dispelled it.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The burning temple lamps of brass emphasized the darkness of the room rather than dispelled it.
RubynounUS /ˈruːbi/
a transparent piece of ruby that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading The Krishna of the Ruby Eyes, an idol known far and wide but seen by few.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The Krishna of the Ruby Eyes, an idol known far and wide but seen by few.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading A shadow occasionally flickered through the amber haze--an exploring bat.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
that is looked for
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The burning temple lamps of brass emphasized the darkness of the room rather than dispelled it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A shadow occasionally flickered through the amber haze--an exploring bat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
Umballa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
at the time that
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading BEHIND THE CURTAINS In the rear of the temple Umballa sought was a small chamber that was used by the priests, when they desired to rest or converse privately, which was often.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The Krishna of the Ruby Eyes, an idol known far and wide but seen by few.
winkedverbUS /wɪŋkt/
past form of “wink” — signal by winking
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A dozen or more priests stood in one of the dim corners, from which their own especial idol winked at them with eyes like coals blown upon.
