used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Raife took the pole of this ancient, dilapidated punt and steered Gilda, who sat on a narrow seat of rough wood that constituted the only seat.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An old punt lay moored at the foot of some moss-covered steps leading to the lake.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading Raife took the pole of this ancient, dilapidated punt and steered Gilda, who sat on a narrow seat of rough wood that constituted the only seat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Pond lilies and chickweed covered the surface of the shallows that led from the steps to the deeper waters, which flickered in the moonlight.
ashnounUS /æʃ/
the residue that remains when something is burned
From this reading Clumps of willows and ash threw their shadows and reflected in the silent pool.
ashenadjectiveUS /ˈæʃən/
anemic looking from illness or emotion
From this reading Her neat, grey costume, rich in material but unobtrusive, contrasted with the ashen grey-greens of the old roughly-hewn punt.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading An old punt lay moored at the foot of some moss-covered steps leading to the lake.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Her neat, grey costume, rich in material but unobtrusive, contrasted with the ashen grey-greens of the old roughly-hewn punt.
chickweednoun
any of various plants of the genus Stellaria
From this reading Pond lilies and chickweed covered the surface of the shallows that led from the steps to the deeper waters, which flickered in the moonlight.
ClumpsnounUS /klʌmps/
plural of “clump” — a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading Clumps of willows and ash threw their shadows and reflected in the silent pool.
constitutedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnstətuːtəd/
brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established
From this reading Raife took the pole of this ancient, dilapidated punt and steered Gilda, who sat on a narrow seat of rough wood that constituted the only seat.
contrastedverbUS /kənˈtræstəd/
past form of “contrast” — put in opposition to show or emphasize differences
From this reading Her neat, grey costume, rich in material but unobtrusive, contrasted with the ashen grey-greens of the old roughly-hewn punt.
costumenounUS /kɑːˈstuːm/
the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball
From this reading Her neat, grey costume, rich in material but unobtrusive, contrasted with the ashen grey-greens of the old roughly-hewn punt.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading Pond lilies and chickweed covered the surface of the shallows that led from the steps to the deeper waters, which flickered in the moonlight.
comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading Pond lilies and chickweed covered the surface of the shallows that led from the steps to the deeper waters, which flickered in the moonlight.
dilapidatedadjectiveUS /dəˈlæpədeɪtɪd/
in deplorable condition
From this reading Raife took the pole of this ancient, dilapidated punt and steered Gilda, who sat on a narrow seat of rough wood that constituted the only seat.
flickeredverbUS /ˈflɪkərd/
past form of “flicker” — move back and forth very rapidly
From this reading Pond lilies and chickweed covered the surface of the shallows that led from the steps to the deeper waters, which flickered in the moonlight.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading An old punt lay moored at the foot of some moss-covered steps leading to the lake.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Pond lilies and chickweed covered the surface of the shallows that led from the steps to the deeper waters, which flickered in the moonlight.
Gilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Raife took the pole of this ancient, dilapidated punt and steered Gilda, who sat on a narrow seat of rough wood that constituted the only seat.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading Her neat, grey costume, rich in material but unobtrusive, contrasted with the ashen grey-greens of the old roughly-hewn punt.
grey-greens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her neat, grey costume, rich in material but unobtrusive, contrasted with the ashen grey-greens of the old roughly-hewn punt.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her neat, grey costume, rich in material but unobtrusive, contrasted with the ashen grey-greens of the old roughly-hewn punt.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Pond lilies and chickweed covered the surface of the shallows that led from the steps to the deeper waters, which flickered in the moonlight.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading An old punt lay moored at the foot of some moss-covered steps leading to the lake.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading An old punt lay moored at the foot of some moss-covered steps leading to the lake.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading An old punt lay moored at the foot of some moss-covered steps leading to the lake.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading Pond lilies and chickweed covered the surface of the shallows that led from the steps to the deeper waters, which flickered in the moonlight.
liliesnounUS /ˈlɪliz/
plural of “lily” — any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers
From this reading Pond lilies and chickweed covered the surface of the shallows that led from the steps to the deeper waters, which flickered in the moonlight.
concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests
From this reading Her neat, grey costume, rich in material but unobtrusive, contrasted with the ashen grey-greens of the old roughly-hewn punt.
the light of the Moon
From this reading Pond lilies and chickweed covered the surface of the shallows that led from the steps to the deeper waters, which flickered in the moonlight.
mooredverbUS /mʊrd/
past form of “moor” — secure in or as if in a berth or dock
From this reading An old punt lay moored at the foot of some moss-covered steps leading to the lake.
moss-covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old punt lay moored at the foot of some moss-covered steps leading to the lake.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Raife took the pole of this ancient, dilapidated punt and steered Gilda, who sat on a narrow seat of rough wood that constituted the only seat.
neatadjectiveUS /niːt/
clean or organized
From this reading Her neat, grey costume, rich in material but unobtrusive, contrasted with the ashen grey-greens of the old roughly-hewn punt.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An old punt lay moored at the foot of some moss-covered steps leading to the lake.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading An old punt lay moored at the foot of some moss-covered steps leading to the lake.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Raife took the pole of this ancient, dilapidated punt and steered Gilda, who sat on a narrow seat of rough wood that constituted the only seat.
and nothing more
From this reading Raife took the pole of this ancient, dilapidated punt and steered Gilda, who sat on a narrow seat of rough wood that constituted the only seat.
polenounUS /poʊl/
a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading Raife took the pole of this ancient, dilapidated punt and steered Gilda, who sat on a narrow seat of rough wood that constituted the only seat.
PondnounUS /pɑːnd/
a small lake
From this reading Pond lilies and chickweed covered the surface of the shallows that led from the steps to the deeper waters, which flickered in the moonlight.
poolnounUS /puːl/
an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading Clumps of willows and ash threw their shadows and reflected in the silent pool.
puntverbUS /pʌnt/
kick the ball
From this reading An old punt lay moored at the foot of some moss-covered steps leading to the lake.
Raife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Raife took the pole of this ancient, dilapidated punt and steered Gilda, who sat on a narrow seat of rough wood that constituted the only seat.
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading Clumps of willows and ash threw their shadows and reflected in the silent pool.
possessing material wealth
From this reading Her neat, grey costume, rich in material but unobtrusive, contrasted with the ashen grey-greens of the old roughly-hewn punt.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading Raife took the pole of this ancient, dilapidated punt and steered Gilda, who sat on a narrow seat of rough wood that constituted the only seat.
roughly-hewn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her neat, grey costume, rich in material but unobtrusive, contrasted with the ashen grey-greens of the old roughly-hewn punt.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Raife took the pole of this ancient, dilapidated punt and steered Gilda, who sat on a narrow seat of rough wood that constituted the only seat.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading Raife took the pole of this ancient, dilapidated punt and steered Gilda, who sat on a narrow seat of rough wood that constituted the only seat.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading Clumps of willows and ash threw their shadows and reflected in the silent pool.
shallows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pond lilies and chickweed covered the surface of the shallows that led from the steps to the deeper waters, which flickered in the moonlight.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Clumps of willows and ash threw their shadows and reflected in the silent pool.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading An old punt lay moored at the foot of some moss-covered steps leading to the lake.
steeredverbUS /stɪrd/
past form of “steer” — direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
From this reading Raife took the pole of this ancient, dilapidated punt and steered Gilda, who sat on a narrow seat of rough wood that constituted the only seat.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading An old punt lay moored at the foot of some moss-covered steps leading to the lake.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Pond lilies and chickweed covered the surface of the shallows that led from the steps to the deeper waters, which flickered in the moonlight.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Pond lilies and chickweed covered the surface of the shallows that led from the steps to the deeper waters, which flickered in the moonlight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An old punt lay moored at the foot of some moss-covered steps leading to the lake.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Clumps of willows and ash threw their shadows and reflected in the silent pool.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Raife took the pole of this ancient, dilapidated punt and steered Gilda, who sat on a narrow seat of rough wood that constituted the only seat.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Clumps of willows and ash threw their shadows and reflected in the silent pool.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading An old punt lay moored at the foot of some moss-covered steps leading to the lake.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Raife took the pole of this ancient, dilapidated punt and steered Gilda, who sat on a narrow seat of rough wood that constituted the only seat.
unobtrusiveadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəbˈtruːsɪv/
not obtrusive or undesirably noticeable
From this reading Her neat, grey costume, rich in material but unobtrusive, contrasted with the ashen grey-greens of the old roughly-hewn punt.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading Pond lilies and chickweed covered the surface of the shallows that led from the steps to the deeper waters, which flickered in the moonlight.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Pond lilies and chickweed covered the surface of the shallows that led from the steps to the deeper waters, which flickered in the moonlight.
which person or people
From this reading Raife took the pole of this ancient, dilapidated punt and steered Gilda, who sat on a narrow seat of rough wood that constituted the only seat.
willowsnounUS /ˈwɪloʊz/
plural of “willow” — any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
From this reading Clumps of willows and ash threw their shadows and reflected in the silent pool.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her neat, grey costume, rich in material but unobtrusive, contrasted with the ashen grey-greens of the old roughly-hewn punt.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading Raife took the pole of this ancient, dilapidated punt and steered Gilda, who sat on a narrow seat of rough wood that constituted the only seat.
