used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
afterglownounUS /ˈæftərɡloʊ/
a glow sometimes seen in the sky after sunset
From this reading Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
apologeticadjectiveUS /əˌpɑːləˈdʒetɪk/
offering or expressing apology
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The darkness, having shown a certain reluctance at the start, was now buckling down to make a quick and thorough job of it.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow
From this reading Sally came out of the house and bowed gravely three times for luck.
bucklingverbUS /ˈbʌklɪŋ/
-ing form of “buckle” — fasten with a buckle or buckles
From this reading The darkness, having shown a certain reluctance at the start, was now buckling down to make a quick and thorough job of it.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Sally came out of the house and bowed gravely three times for luck.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading The darkness, having shown a certain reluctance at the start, was now buckling down to make a quick and thorough job of it.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The darkness, having shown a certain reluctance at the start, was now buckling down to make a quick and thorough job of it.
the act of consuming liquids
From this reading She stood on the gravel, outside the porch, drinking in the sweet evening scents, and found life good.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading She stood on the gravel, outside the porch, drinking in the sweet evening scents, and found life good.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Sally came out of the house and bowed gravely three times for luck.
set up or found
From this reading She stood on the gravel, outside the porch, drinking in the sweet evening scents, and found life good.
assemble or get together
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading She stood on the gravel, outside the porch, drinking in the sweet evening scents, and found life good.
gravelnounUS /ˈɡrævəl/
rock fragments and pebbles
From this reading She stood on the gravel, outside the porch, drinking in the sweet evening scents, and found life good.
in a grave and sober manner
From this reading Sally came out of the house and bowed gravely three times for luck.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The darkness, having shown a certain reluctance at the start, was now buckling down to make a quick and thorough job of it.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Sally came out of the house and bowed gravely three times for luck.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She stood on the gravel, outside the porch, drinking in the sweet evening scents, and found life good.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading The darkness, having shown a certain reluctance at the start, was now buckling down to make a quick and thorough job of it.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading She stood on the gravel, outside the porch, drinking in the sweet evening scents, and found life good.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
lingeredverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡərd/
past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading Sally came out of the house and bowed gravely three times for luck.
engage in
From this reading The darkness, having shown a certain reluctance at the start, was now buckling down to make a quick and thorough job of it.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The darkness, having shown a certain reluctance at the start, was now buckling down to make a quick and thorough job of it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She stood on the gravel, outside the porch, drinking in the sweet evening scents, and found life good.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Sally came out of the house and bowed gravely three times for luck.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading She stood on the gravel, outside the porch, drinking in the sweet evening scents, and found life good.
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
porchnounUS /pɔːrtʃ/
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading She stood on the gravel, outside the porch, drinking in the sweet evening scents, and found life good.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading The darkness, having shown a certain reluctance at the start, was now buckling down to make a quick and thorough job of it.
regrettedverbUS /rɪˈɡretɪd/
inflected form of “regret” — feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
reluctancenounUS /rɪˈlʌktəns/
(physics) opposition to magnetic flux (analogous to electric resistance)
From this reading The darkness, having shown a certain reluctance at the start, was now buckling down to make a quick and thorough job of it.
SallynounUS /ˈsæli/
witty remark
From this reading Sally came out of the house and bowed gravely three times for luck.
scentsnounUS /sents/
plural of “scent” — a distinctive odor that is pleasant
From this reading She stood on the gravel, outside the porch, drinking in the sweet evening scents, and found life good.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She stood on the gravel, outside the porch, drinking in the sweet evening scents, and found life good.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The darkness, having shown a certain reluctance at the start, was now buckling down to make a quick and thorough job of it.
sicklenounUS /ˈsɪkəl/
an edge tool for cutting grass or crops; has a curved blade and a short handle
From this reading Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
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 Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The darkness, having shown a certain reluctance at the start, was now buckling down to make a quick and thorough job of it.
not in physical motion
From this reading Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading She stood on the gravel, outside the porch, drinking in the sweet evening scents, and found life good.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading She stood on the gravel, outside the porch, drinking in the sweet evening scents, and found life good.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
thoroughadjectiveUS /ˈθɜːroʊ/
painstakingly careful and accurate
From this reading The darkness, having shown a certain reluctance at the start, was now buckling down to make a quick and thorough job of it.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Sally came out of the house and bowed gravely three times for luck.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Sally came out of the house and bowed gravely three times for luck.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading Over to the west beyond the trees there still lingered a faint afterglow, and a new moon shone like a silver sickle above the big barn.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Darkness was beginning to gather slowly and with almost an apologetic air, as if it regretted the painful duty of putting an end to the perfect summer day.
