used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
archnounUS /ɑːrtʃ/
a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
blackeradjectiveUS /ˈblækər/
comparative of “black” — 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 cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
boardsnounUS /bɔːrdz/
(used in the plural) the stage of a theater
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
canalnounUS /kəˈnæl/
(astronomy) an indistinct surface feature of Mars once thought to be a system of channels; they are now believed to be an optical illusion
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
climbingnounUS /ˈklaɪmɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
drop-curtain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The steps wind and end in a tenement, once a palace, spanning the water.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
fleecyadjectiveUS /ˈfliːsi/
(of fabrics) having soft nap produced by brushing
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
in a gradual manner
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
an opening into or through something
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
impassableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpæsəbəl/
incapable of being passed
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was midnight.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading It was midnight.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
nighadjectiveUS /naɪ/
not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
on one occasion
From this reading The steps wind and end in a tenement, once a palace, spanning the water.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading The steps wind and end in a tenement, once a palace, spanning the water.
perilousadjectiveUS /ˈperələs/
fraught with danger
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
PetersburgnounUS /ˈpiːtərzbərɡ/
a town in southeastern Virginia (south of Richmond); scene of heavy fighting during the American Civil War
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
pooreradjectiveUS /ˈpuːrər/
comparative of “poor” — deserving or inciting pity
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
housing available for people to live in
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
precisely, exactly
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
screeningnounUS /ˈskriːnɪŋ/
the display of a motion picture
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
spanningverbUS /ˈspænɪŋ/
inflected form of “span” — to cover or extend over an area or time period
From this reading The steps wind and end in a tenement, once a palace, spanning the water.
spreadingnounUS /ˈspredɪŋ/
process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
tenementnounUS /ˈtenəmənt/
a run-down apartment house barely meeting minimal standards
From this reading The steps wind and end in a tenement, once a palace, spanning the water.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In one of the poorer quarters of St. Petersburg there is a street on a back canal, and over the street an arch.
tiltingverbUS /ˈtɪltɪŋ/
-ing form of “tilt” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading A cloud had come over the moon, light and fleecy at first, but gradually growing blacker and spreading until finally it hung like a huge drop-curtain screening the stars.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was midnight.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The steps wind and end in a tenement, once a palace, spanning the water.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The steps wind and end in a tenement, once a palace, spanning the water.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
worm-eatenadjective
infested with or damaged (as if eaten) by worms
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading To the right of the arch is a flight of steps, ancient and worm-eaten, difficult of climbing by day by reason of a hole here, a worn place there, and the perilous tilting of the boards; at night well nigh impassable without a lantern.
