used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The broad avenue was almost deserted.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading From blurred light to light ran a space of pavement blessedly firm to hurrying, uncertain feet, yet lights and pavement seemed to multiply and stretch away indefinitely.
move towards
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But if one hurried, hurried on, there was someone waiting at the end.
a line of approach
From this reading The broad avenue was almost deserted.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading From blurred light to light ran a space of pavement blessedly firm to hurrying, uncertain feet, yet lights and pavement seemed to multiply and stretch away indefinitely.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
completely unclothed
From this reading Stars thridded the bare elm-boughs overhead.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
blessedlyadverbUS /ˈblesədli/
in a blessed manner
From this reading From blurred light to light ran a space of pavement blessedly firm to hurrying, uncertain feet, yet lights and pavement seemed to multiply and stretch away indefinitely.
blurredadjectiveUS /blɜːrd/
indistinct or hazy in outline
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The broad avenue was almost deserted.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But if one hurried, hurried on, there was someone waiting at the end.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading The broad avenue was almost deserted.
elm-boughs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stars thridded the bare elm-boughs overhead.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading But if one hurried, hurried on, there was someone waiting at the end.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading From blurred light to light ran a space of pavement blessedly firm to hurrying, uncertain feet, yet lights and pavement seemed to multiply and stretch away indefinitely.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading From blurred light to light ran a space of pavement blessedly firm to hurrying, uncertain feet, yet lights and pavement seemed to multiply and stretch away indefinitely.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From blurred light to light ran a space of pavement blessedly firm to hurrying, uncertain feet, yet lights and pavement seemed to multiply and stretch away indefinitely.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading But if one hurried, hurried on, there was someone waiting at the end.
hurryingadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading From blurred light to light ran a space of pavement blessedly firm to hurrying, uncertain feet, yet lights and pavement seemed to multiply and stretch away indefinitely.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But if one hurried, hurried on, there was someone waiting at the end.
indefinitelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdefənətli/
to an indefinite extent; for an indefinite time
From this reading From blurred light to light ran a space of pavement blessedly firm to hurrying, uncertain feet, yet lights and pavement seemed to multiply and stretch away indefinitely.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading From blurred light to light ran a space of pavement blessedly firm to hurrying, uncertain feet, yet lights and pavement seemed to multiply and stretch away indefinitely.
loomedverbUS /luːmd/
past form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
multiplyverbUS /ˈmʌltəplaɪ/
combine by multiplication
From this reading From blurred light to light ran a space of pavement blessedly firm to hurrying, uncertain feet, yet lights and pavement seemed to multiply and stretch away indefinitely.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But if one hurried, hurried on, there was someone waiting at the end.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading Stars thridded the bare elm-boughs overhead.
pavementnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənt/
the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading From blurred light to light ran a space of pavement blessedly firm to hurrying, uncertain feet, yet lights and pavement seemed to multiply and stretch away indefinitely.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading From blurred light to light ran a space of pavement blessedly firm to hurrying, uncertain feet, yet lights and pavement seemed to multiply and stretch away indefinitely.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading From blurred light to light ran a space of pavement blessedly firm to hurrying, uncertain feet, yet lights and pavement seemed to multiply and stretch away indefinitely.
a person, without saying who
From this reading But if one hurried, hurried on, there was someone waiting at the end.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading From blurred light to light ran a space of pavement blessedly firm to hurrying, uncertain feet, yet lights and pavement seemed to multiply and stretch away indefinitely.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Stars thridded the bare elm-boughs overhead.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading From blurred light to light ran a space of pavement blessedly firm to hurrying, uncertain feet, yet lights and pavement seemed to multiply and stretch away indefinitely.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Stars thridded the bare elm-boughs overhead.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But if one hurried, hurried on, there was someone waiting at the end.
thridded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stars thridded the bare elm-boughs overhead.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From blurred light to light ran a space of pavement blessedly firm to hurrying, uncertain feet, yet lights and pavement seemed to multiply and stretch away indefinitely.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading From blurred light to light ran a space of pavement blessedly firm to hurrying, uncertain feet, yet lights and pavement seemed to multiply and stretch away indefinitely.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading But if one hurried, hurried on, there was someone waiting at the end.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The broad avenue was almost deserted.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Always against the blackness of the next corner loomed a blurred ball of light, which, on approach, turned into a familiar street lamp.
but in spite of that
From this reading From blurred light to light ran a space of pavement blessedly firm to hurrying, uncertain feet, yet lights and pavement seemed to multiply and stretch away indefinitely.
