used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “I guess I can solve the mystery,” struck in Ralph.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
darklyadverbUS /ˈdɑːrkli/
without light
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading “What is that off there?” demanded Percy Simmons, indicating the tall object.
discussingverbUS /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
DriftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading “I guess I can solve the mystery,” struck in Ralph.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading “Looks like some sort of a monument,” supplemented Harry Ware.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I guess I can solve the mystery,” struck in Ralph.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is Windmill Island, or I’m very much mistaken.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
indicatingverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading “What is that off there?” demanded Percy Simmons, indicating the tall object.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “What is that off there?” demanded Percy Simmons, indicating the tall object.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading “That is Windmill Island, or I’m very much mistaken.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “Looks like some sort of a monument,” supplemented Harry Ware.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading “Looks like some sort of a monument,” supplemented Harry Ware.
wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment
From this reading “That is Windmill Island, or I’m very much mistaken.
monumentnounUS /ˈmɑːnjuːmənt/
a structure erected to commemorate persons or events
From this reading “Looks like some sort of a monument,” supplemented Harry Ware.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading “That is Windmill Island, or I’m very much mistaken.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading “I guess I can solve the mystery,” struck in Ralph.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading “What is that off there?” demanded Percy Simmons, indicating the tall object.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “That is Windmill Island, or I’m very much mistaken.
PercynounUS /ˈpɜːrsi/
United States writer whose novels explored human alienation (1916-1990)
From this reading “What is that off there?” demanded Percy Simmons, indicating the tall object.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I guess I can solve the mystery,” struck in Ralph.
cut with a saw
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
Simmons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What is that off there?” demanded Percy Simmons, indicating the tall object.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
solveverbUS /sɑːlv/
find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
From this reading “I guess I can solve the mystery,” struck in Ralph.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “Looks like some sort of a monument,” supplemented Harry Ware.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading “Looks like some sort of a monument,” supplemented Harry Ware.
not in physical motion
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading “I guess I can solve the mystery,” struck in Ralph.
supplementedverbUS /sʌpləmentɪd/
past form of “supplement” — add as a supplement to what seems insufficient
From this reading “Looks like some sort of a monument,” supplemented Harry Ware.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “What is that off there?” demanded Percy Simmons, indicating the tall object.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “What is that off there?” demanded Percy Simmons, indicating the tall object.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
precisely as stated
From this reading “That is Windmill Island, or I’m very much mistaken.
WarenounUS /wer/
articles of the same kind or material; usually used in combination: “silverware”, “software”
From this reading “Looks like some sort of a monument,” supplemented Harry Ware.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What is that off there?” demanded Percy Simmons, indicating the tall object.
at the time that
From this reading Drifting in the darkness, they were still discussing the situation when, through the gloom, they saw, not far off, a tall, black shadow showing darkly against the curtain of the night.
WindmillnounUS /ˈwɪndmɪl/
a mill that is powered by the wind
From this reading “That is Windmill Island, or I’m very much mistaken.
