Chapter IV · Chapter 4

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A black shadow gliding like an almost impalpable spot, might be seen moving along the street of Saint John.

plural of “alley” — a narrow street with walls on both sides

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading A black shadow gliding like an almost impalpable spot, might be seen moving along the street of Saint John.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading A black shadow gliding like an almost impalpable spot, might be seen moving along the street of Saint John.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading A black shadow gliding like an almost impalpable spot, might be seen moving along the street of Saint John.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

an attack intended to ruin someone's reputation

From this reading THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION--THE ASSASSINATOR SLAIN.

a murderer (especially one who kills a prominent political figure) who kills by a surprise attack and often is hired to do the deed

From this reading THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION--THE ASSASSINATOR SLAIN.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

a particular environment or surrounding influence

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

tried unsuccessfully

From this reading THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION--THE ASSASSINATOR SLAIN.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading A black shadow gliding like an almost impalpable spot, might be seen moving along the street of Saint John.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading A black shadow gliding like an almost impalpable spot, might be seen moving along the street of Saint John.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible

From this reading Thick clouds covered the sky.

plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading Thick clouds covered the sky.

becoming smaller or less or appearing to do so

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

past form of “flicker” — move back and forth very rapidly

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

stunned or confused and slow to react (as from blows or drunkenness or exhaustion)

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

the activity of flying a glider

From this reading A black shadow gliding like an almost impalpable spot, might be seen moving along the street of Saint John.

the quality of shining with a bright reflected light

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

an iconic mental representation

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

incapable of being perceived by the senses especially the sense of touch

From this reading A black shadow gliding like an almost impalpable spot, might be seen moving along the street of Saint John.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading A black shadow gliding like an almost impalpable spot, might be seen moving along the street of Saint John.

an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

set afire or burning

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading A black shadow gliding like an almost impalpable spot, might be seen moving along the street of Saint John.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading A black shadow gliding like an almost impalpable spot, might be seen moving along the street of Saint John.

in motion

From this reading A black shadow gliding like an almost impalpable spot, might be seen moving along the street of Saint John.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not a star was visible.

the quality of being unclear or abstruse and hard to understand

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A black shadow gliding like an almost impalpable spot, might be seen moving along the street of Saint John.

a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization

From this reading A black shadow gliding like an almost impalpable spot, might be seen moving along the street of Saint John.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading A black shadow gliding like an almost impalpable spot, might be seen moving along the street of Saint John.

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading A black shadow gliding like an almost impalpable spot, might be seen moving along the street of Saint John.

inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading Thick clouds covered the sky.

people who have been slain (as in battle)

From this reading THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION--THE ASSASSINATOR SLAIN.

a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading A black shadow gliding like an almost impalpable spot, might be seen moving along the street of Saint John.

(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading Not a star was visible.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading A black shadow gliding like an almost impalpable spot, might be seen moving along the street of Saint John.

plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION--THE ASSASSINATOR SLAIN.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

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 Thick clouds covered the sky.

a person who has never had sex

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

capable of being seen; or open to easy view

From this reading Not a star was visible.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Not a star was visible.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading Here and there--at the corners of the streets and alleys--flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing the obscurity, shone in the foggy atmosphere as glowworms in the woods, which glitter but do not give light.