used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
abyssnounUS /əˈbɪs/
a bottomless gulf or pit; any unfathomable (or apparently unfathomable) cavity or chasm or void extending below (often used figuratively)
From this reading Leo leaned over the balustrade of the corridor, and gazed down into the depths of a cavernous abyss.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
anew
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Soft as the sighing of the wind was this elfin music, but swelling into mimic bursts of harmony and clashing of small cymbals.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
attirenounUS /əˈtaɪər/
clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion
From this reading Instantly the space seemed filled with sprites in every conceivable attire.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
balustradenoun
a railing at the side of a staircase or balcony to prevent people from falling
From this reading Leo leaned over the balustrade of the corridor, and gazed down into the depths of a cavernous abyss.
burstsnounUS /bɜːrsts/
plural of “burst” — the act of exploding or bursting
From this reading Soft as the sighing of the wind was this elfin music, but swelling into mimic bursts of harmony and clashing of small cymbals.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Soft as the sighing of the wind was this elfin music, but swelling into mimic bursts of harmony and clashing of small cymbals.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
cavernousadjectiveUS /ˈkævərnəs/
being or suggesting a cavern
From this reading Leo leaned over the balustrade of the corridor, and gazed down into the depths of a cavernous abyss.
cherubsnounUS /ˈtʃerəbz/
plural of “cherub” — a sweet innocent baby
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
clashingadjectiveUS /ˈklæʃɪŋ/
sharply and harshly discordant
From this reading Soft as the sighing of the wind was this elfin music, but swelling into mimic bursts of harmony and clashing of small cymbals.
conceivableadjectiveUS /kənˈsiːvəbəl/
capable of being imagined
From this reading Instantly the space seemed filled with sprites in every conceivable attire.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading Leo leaned over the balustrade of the corridor, and gazed down into the depths of a cavernous abyss.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
crooksnounUS /krʊks/
plural of “crook” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
cymbalsnounUS /ˈsɪmbəlz/
plural of “cymbal” — a percussion instrument consisting of a concave brass disk; makes a loud crashing sound when hit with a drumstick or when two are struck together
From this reading Soft as the sighing of the wind was this elfin music, but swelling into mimic bursts of harmony and clashing of small cymbals.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading Leo leaned over the balustrade of the corridor, and gazed down into the depths of a cavernous abyss.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Leo leaned over the balustrade of the corridor, and gazed down into the depths of a cavernous abyss.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
echoesnounUS /ˈekoʊz/
plural of “echo” — the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
elfinadjectiveUS /ˈelfɪn/
suggestive of an elf in strangeness and otherworldliness
From this reading Soft as the sighing of the wind was this elfin music, but swelling into mimic bursts of harmony and clashing of small cymbals.
erminenounUS /ˈɜːrmən/
the expensive white fur of the ermine
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Instantly the space seemed filled with sprites in every conceivable attire.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Instantly the space seemed filled with sprites in every conceivable attire.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
gauzyadjective
so thin as to transmit light
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Leo leaned over the balustrade of the corridor, and gazed down into the depths of a cavernous abyss.
in a gradual manner
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
plural of “habit” — an established custom
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
harmonynounUS /ˈhɑːrməni/
compatibility in opinion and action
From this reading Soft as the sighing of the wind was this elfin music, but swelling into mimic bursts of harmony and clashing of small cymbals.
restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Instantly the space seemed filled with sprites in every conceivable attire.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Instantly the space seemed filled with sprites in every conceivable attire.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Leo leaned over the balustrade of the corridor, and gazed down into the depths of a cavernous abyss.
LeonounUS /ˈliːoʊ/
(astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Leo
From this reading Leo leaned over the balustrade of the corridor, and gazed down into the depths of a cavernous abyss.
Leo'snounUS /ˈliːoʊz/
possessive form of “leo” — (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Leo
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
mimicnounUS /ˈmɪmɪk/
someone who mimics (especially an actor or actress)
From this reading Soft as the sighing of the wind was this elfin music, but swelling into mimic bursts of harmony and clashing of small cymbals.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading Soft as the sighing of the wind was this elfin music, but swelling into mimic bursts of harmony and clashing of small cymbals.
musicaladjectiveUS /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/
characterized by or capable of producing music
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Leo leaned over the balustrade of the corridor, and gazed down into the depths of a cavernous abyss.
plural of “page” — one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
party-colored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
prolongverbUS /prəˈlɔːŋ/
lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
robesnounUS /roʊbz/
plural of “robe” — any loose flowing garment
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
royaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
shepherdsnounUS /ˈʃepərdz/
plural of “shepherd” — a clergyman who watches over a group of people
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
sighingverbUS /ˈsaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading Soft as the sighing of the wind was this elfin music, but swelling into mimic bursts of harmony and clashing of small cymbals.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Soft as the sighing of the wind was this elfin music, but swelling into mimic bursts of harmony and clashing of small cymbals.
snow-flakes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading Soft as the sighing of the wind was this elfin music, but swelling into mimic bursts of harmony and clashing of small cymbals.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Instantly the space seemed filled with sprites in every conceivable attire.
spritesnoun
atmospheric electricity (lasting 10 msec) appearing as globular flashes of red (pink to blood-red) light rising to heights of 60 miles (sometimes seen together with elves)
From this reading Instantly the space seemed filled with sprites in every conceivable attire.
strainsnounUS /streɪnz/
plural of “strain” — (physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
swellingnounUS /ˈswelɪŋ/
an abnormal protuberance or localized enlargement
From this reading Soft as the sighing of the wind was this elfin music, but swelling into mimic bursts of harmony and clashing of small cymbals.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Soft as the sighing of the wind was this elfin music, but swelling into mimic bursts of harmony and clashing of small cymbals.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Soft as the sighing of the wind was this elfin music, but swelling into mimic bursts of harmony and clashing of small cymbals.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
whirlingnounUS /ˈwɜːrlɪŋ/
the act of rotating in a circle or spiral
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Soft as the sighing of the wind was this elfin music, but swelling into mimic bursts of harmony and clashing of small cymbals.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading Some were dressed in the party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine, others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the music.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Instantly the space seemed filled with sprites in every conceivable attire.
