used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE SILENT SORROW A bell tolled mournfully with a slow, swinging cadence like a passing bell.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Every night all the year round the little valley of Longdean echoed to that mournful clang.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Perhaps it was for this reason that a wandering poet christened the place as the House of the Silent Sorrow.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For seven years this had been going on now, until nobody but strangers noticed it.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE SILENT SORROW A bell tolled mournfully with a slow, swinging cadence like a passing bell.
boomverbUS /buːm/
make a resonant sound, like artillery
From this reading On winter nights folks, passing the House of the Silent Sorrow, compared the doleful clanging to the boom that carries the criminal from the cell to the scaffold.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For seven years this had been going on now, until nobody but strangers noticed it.
cadencenounUS /ˈkeɪdəns/
(prosody) the accent in a metrical foot of verse
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE SILENT SORROW A bell tolled mournfully with a slow, swinging cadence like a passing bell.
carriesnounUS /ˈkæriz/
plural of “carry” — the act of carrying something
From this reading On winter nights folks, passing the House of the Silent Sorrow, compared the doleful clanging to the boom that carries the criminal from the cell to the scaffold.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading On winter nights folks, passing the House of the Silent Sorrow, compared the doleful clanging to the boom that carries the criminal from the cell to the scaffold.
christenedverbUS /ˈkrɪsənd/
past form of “christen” — administer baptism to
From this reading Perhaps it was for this reason that a wandering poet christened the place as the House of the Silent Sorrow.
clangnounUS /klæŋ/
a loud resonant repeating noise
From this reading Every night all the year round the little valley of Longdean echoed to that mournful clang.
clangingadjectiveUS /ˈklæŋɪŋ/
having a loud resonant metallic sound
From this reading On winter nights folks, passing the House of the Silent Sorrow, compared the doleful clanging to the boom that carries the criminal from the cell to the scaffold.
past form of “compare” — examine and note the similarities or differences of
From this reading On winter nights folks, passing the House of the Silent Sorrow, compared the doleful clanging to the boom that carries the criminal from the cell to the scaffold.
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
From this reading On winter nights folks, passing the House of the Silent Sorrow, compared the doleful clanging to the boom that carries the criminal from the cell to the scaffold.
dolefuladjectiveUS /ˈdoʊlfəl/
filled with or evoking sadness
From this reading On winter nights folks, passing the House of the Silent Sorrow, compared the doleful clanging to the boom that carries the criminal from the cell to the scaffold.
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading Every night all the year round the little valley of Longdean echoed to that mournful clang.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every night all the year round the little valley of Longdean echoed to that mournful clang.
your parents
From this reading On winter nights folks, passing the House of the Silent Sorrow, compared the doleful clanging to the boom that carries the criminal from the cell to the scaffold.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Perhaps it was for this reason that a wandering poet christened the place as the House of the Silent Sorrow.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading On winter nights folks, passing the House of the Silent Sorrow, compared the doleful clanging to the boom that carries the criminal from the cell to the scaffold.
the act of departing
From this reading For seven years this had been going on now, until nobody but strangers noticed it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For seven years this had been going on now, until nobody but strangers noticed it.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE SILENT SORROW A bell tolled mournfully with a slow, swinging cadence like a passing bell.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Perhaps it was for this reason that a wandering poet christened the place as the House of the Silent Sorrow.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE SILENT SORROW A bell tolled mournfully with a slow, swinging cadence like a passing bell.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Every night all the year round the little valley of Longdean echoed to that mournful clang.
Longdean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every night all the year round the little valley of Longdean echoed to that mournful clang.
mournfuladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrnfəl/
expressing sorrow
From this reading Every night all the year round the little valley of Longdean echoed to that mournful clang.
mournfullyadverb
in a mournful manner
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE SILENT SORROW A bell tolled mournfully with a slow, swinging cadence like a passing bell.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Every night all the year round the little valley of Longdean echoed to that mournful clang.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading On winter nights folks, passing the House of the Silent Sorrow, compared the doleful clanging to the boom that carries the criminal from the cell to the scaffold.
no person; not anyone
From this reading For seven years this had been going on now, until nobody but strangers noticed it.
being perceived or observed
From this reading For seven years this had been going on now, until nobody but strangers noticed it.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading For seven years this had been going on now, until nobody but strangers noticed it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE SILENT SORROW A bell tolled mournfully with a slow, swinging cadence like a passing bell.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On winter nights folks, passing the House of the Silent Sorrow, compared the doleful clanging to the boom that carries the criminal from the cell to the scaffold.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE SILENT SORROW A bell tolled mournfully with a slow, swinging cadence like a passing bell.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps it was for this reason that a wandering poet christened the place as the House of the Silent Sorrow.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Perhaps it was for this reason that a wandering poet christened the place as the House of the Silent Sorrow.
a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)
From this reading Perhaps it was for this reason that a wandering poet christened the place as the House of the Silent Sorrow.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Perhaps it was for this reason that a wandering poet christened the place as the House of the Silent Sorrow.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Every night all the year round the little valley of Longdean echoed to that mournful clang.
scaffoldnounUS /ˈskæfəld/
a platform from which criminals are executed (hanged or beheaded)
From this reading On winter nights folks, passing the House of the Silent Sorrow, compared the doleful clanging to the boom that carries the criminal from the cell to the scaffold.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading For seven years this had been going on now, until nobody but strangers noticed it.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE SILENT SORROW A bell tolled mournfully with a slow, swinging cadence like a passing bell.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE SILENT SORROW A bell tolled mournfully with a slow, swinging cadence like a passing bell.
an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE SILENT SORROW A bell tolled mournfully with a slow, swinging cadence like a passing bell.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading For seven years this had been going on now, until nobody but strangers noticed it.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE SILENT SORROW A bell tolled mournfully with a slow, swinging cadence like a passing bell.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On winter nights folks, passing the House of the Silent Sorrow, compared the doleful clanging to the boom that carries the criminal from the cell to the scaffold.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE SILENT SORROW A bell tolled mournfully with a slow, swinging cadence like a passing bell.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Perhaps it was for this reason that a wandering poet christened the place as the House of the Silent Sorrow.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On winter nights folks, passing the House of the Silent Sorrow, compared the doleful clanging to the boom that carries the criminal from the cell to the scaffold.
tolledverbUS /toʊld/
past form of “toll” — ring slowly
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE SILENT SORROW A bell tolled mournfully with a slow, swinging cadence like a passing bell.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading For seven years this had been going on now, until nobody but strangers noticed it.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Every night all the year round the little valley of Longdean echoed to that mournful clang.
migratory
From this reading Perhaps it was for this reason that a wandering poet christened the place as the House of the Silent Sorrow.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps it was for this reason that a wandering poet christened the place as the House of the Silent Sorrow.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading On winter nights folks, passing the House of the Silent Sorrow, compared the doleful clanging to the boom that carries the criminal from the cell to the scaffold.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE HOUSE OF THE SILENT SORROW A bell tolled mournfully with a slow, swinging cadence like a passing bell.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Every night all the year round the little valley of Longdean echoed to that mournful clang.
a late time of life
From this reading For seven years this had been going on now, until nobody but strangers noticed it.
