used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
anew
From this reading "O no, O no, you rebel cur, I'll never eat nor drink, Till father's hall I see again!
amphitheaternounUS /ˈæmfəθiˈeɪtər/
a sloping gallery with seats for spectators (as in an operating room or theater)
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
BalladnounUS /ˈbæləd/
a narrative song with a recurrent refrain
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
barleynounUS /ˈbɑːrli/
a grain of barley
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
coalnounUS /koʊl/
fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
contraptionsnounUS /kənˈtræpʃənz/
plural of “contraption” — a device or control that is very useful for a particular job
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
curnounUS /kɜːr/
an inferior dog or one of mixed breed
From this reading "O no, O no, you rebel cur, I'll never eat nor drink, Till father's hall I see again!
a female human offspring
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Till death has trapped the Mink!"
diamondsnounUS /ˈdaɪməndz/
plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
take in liquids
From this reading "O no, O no, you rebel cur, I'll never eat nor drink, Till father's hall I see again!
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
take in solid food
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "O no, O no, you rebel cur, I'll never eat nor drink, Till father's hall I see again!
filchedverbUS /fɪltʃt/
past form of “filch” — make off with belongings of others
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
glowingadjectiveUS /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/
highly enthusiastic
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
glowworms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading "O no, O no, you rebel cur, I'll never eat nor drink, Till father's hall I see again!
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Till death has trapped the Mink!"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
ten 10s
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "O no, O no, you rebel cur, I'll never eat nor drink, Till father's hall I see again!
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O no, O no, you rebel cur, I'll never eat nor drink, Till father's hall I see again!
illuminedverbUS /ˌɪˈluːmənd/
past form of “illumine” — make lighter or brighter
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
lanternsnounUS /ˈlæntərnz/
plural of “lantern” — light in a transparent protective case
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
marvelousadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːrvələs/
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
the force of workers available
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
Miner'snounUS /ˈmaɪnərz/
possessive form of “miner” — laborer who works in a mine
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
minesnounUS /maɪnz/
plural of “mine” — excavation in the earth from which ores and minerals are extracted
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
MinknounUS /mɪŋk/
the expensive fur of a mink
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
mournedverbUS /mɔːrnd/
past form of “mourn” — feel sadness
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "O no, O no, you rebel cur, I'll never eat nor drink, Till father's hall I see again!
not any; not one
From this reading "O no, O no, you rebel cur, I'll never eat nor drink, Till father's hall I see again!
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading "O no, O no, you rebel cur, I'll never eat nor drink, Till father's hall I see again!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading "O no, O no, you rebel cur, I'll never eat nor drink, Till father's hall I see again!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
penetratingadjectiveUS /ˈpenətreɪtɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
pitnounUS /pɪt/
A large hole in the ground, or an abyss of darkness and peril.
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
plural of “pocket” — a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
radiancenounUS /ˈreɪdiːəns/
the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
rebelnounUS /ˈrebəl/
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading "O no, O no, you rebel cur, I'll never eat nor drink, Till father's hall I see again!
Ruck's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
seatsnounUS /siːts/
an area that includes places where several people can sit
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "O no, O no, you rebel cur, I'll never eat nor drink, Till father's hall I see again!
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
shaftsnounUS /ʃæfts/
plural of “shaft” — a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
slippingadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpɪŋ/
moving as on a slippery surface
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
slopingadjectiveUS /ˈsloʊpɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
spacedadjectiveUS /speɪst/
spaced apart
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
young nobleman attendant on a knight
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
temptverbUS /tempt/
dispose or incline or entice to
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
in or at that place or location
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
up to a particular time
From this reading "O no, O no, you rebel cur, I'll never eat nor drink, Till father's hall I see again!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
trappedadjectiveUS /træpt/
forced to turn and face attackers
From this reading Till death has trapped the Mink!"
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 --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
veinsnounUS /veɪnz/
plural of “vein” — a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading --Ruck's Ballad of the Mink There were seven hundred silent men in the amphitheater of the forest, and more came in each minute, slipping from the trees without a sound, taking seats on the sloping grass.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The pretty daughter of the squire, She mourned and would not eat; The Mink he tried to tempt her With barley bread and meat.
a late time of life
From this reading Miner's lanterns, the marvelous contraptions that hung in the shafts beside the veins of coal or pockets of diamonds, glowing with a dull penetrating radiance, had been filched from the mines one by one over years, and now illumined the strange hall like blue glowworms spaced around a pit.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "O no, O no, you rebel cur, I'll never eat nor drink, Till father's hall I see again!
