Chapter IX · Chapter 9

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

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

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

From this reading To her the moon was an enemy, cruel and terrible.

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

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

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

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

a light shade of blue

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

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

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

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

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

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

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

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 CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

shining intensely

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

From this reading To her the moon was an enemy, cruel and terrible.

utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

any of various platforms built into a vessel

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

an opposing military force

From this reading To her the moon was an enemy, cruel and terrible.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

(comparative of “few” used with count nouns) quantifier meaning a smaller number of

From this reading Midnight was near, and the yellow lights of the town were fewer than they had been.

be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

(medicine) bleached cotton cloth of plain weave used for bandages and dressings

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

be shiny, as if wet

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

be suspended or hanging

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

secretly shelter (as of fugitives or criminals)

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading To her the moon was an enemy, cruel and terrible.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

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

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading Midnight was near, and the yellow lights of the town were fewer than they had been.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night

From this reading Midnight was near, and the yellow lights of the town were fewer than they had been.

the action of people mingling and coming into contact

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading To her the moon was an enemy, cruel and terrible.

the light of the Moon

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

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

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Midnight was near, and the yellow lights of the town were fewer than they had been.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

not any; not one

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

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

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

the line that appears to bound an object

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

without mercy or pity

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

precisely, exactly

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

the place where some action occurs

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

brilliantly clever

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

plural of “sequin” — adornment consisting of a small piece of shiny material used to decorate clothing

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

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

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

having the point made sharp

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

marked by exceptional merit

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

(of undissolved particles in a fluid) supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy and without apparent attachment

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading To her the moon was an enemy, cruel and terrible.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Midnight was near, and the yellow lights of the town were fewer than they had been.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

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

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Midnight was near, and the yellow lights of the town were fewer than they had been.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading She would have given her right hand for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars reflected in the water like sequins shining through blue gauze.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading Midnight was near, and the yellow lights of the town were fewer than they had been.

transmitting light; able to be seen through with clarity

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

a state in the eastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the Confederate States in the American Civil War

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

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

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

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 A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Midnight was near, and the yellow lights of the town were fewer than they had been.

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

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

a Caucasian

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

coated with whitewash

From this reading A CRY ACROSS THE WATER It was night in the harbour of Noumea; a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight which sharpened the black outline of every shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl.

love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

an expensive vessel propelled by sail or power and used for cruising or racing

From this reading Had there been no secret business on foot, Virginia Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to float in water, but to hang suspended in the transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading Midnight was near, and the yellow lights of the town were fewer than they had been.