Chapter XVI · The Darkness Puts Forth a Tentacle

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

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

later than; following

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading The air became sultry as the inky clouds banked higher and higher.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

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

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

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

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

plural of “aspen” — any of several trees of the genus Populus having leaves on flattened stalks so that they flutter in the lightest wind

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading The night wind sighed and died away in faint puffs upon the trees.

past form of “bank” — tip laterally

From this reading The air became sultry as the inky clouds banked higher and higher.

engaging in the business of keeping money for savings and checking accounts or for exchange or for issuing loans and credit etc.

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading The air became sultry as the inky clouds banked higher and higher.

a room used primarily for sleeping

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

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 midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading The night wind sighed and died away in faint puffs upon the trees.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

past form of “ensue” — issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

all things; all of a situation

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc

From this reading The night wind sighed and died away in faint puffs upon the trees.

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

the act of departing

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

advanced in complexity or elaboration

From this reading The air became sultry as the inky clouds banked higher and higher.

plural of “hinge” — a joint that holds two parts together so that one can swing relative to the other

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

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

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

become quiet or still; fall silent

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

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

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

of the color of black ink

From this reading The air became sultry as the inky clouds banked higher and higher.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

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

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

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

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

plural of “odour” — the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

an open or empty space in or between things

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

above and across; more than

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

an estate where cash crops are grown on a large scale (especially in tropical areas)

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

plural of “puff” — a short light gust of air

From this reading The night wind sighed and died away in faint puffs upon the trees.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

(of winds) coming from the land

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

the act of causing something to go (especially messages)

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily

From this reading The night wind sighed and died away in faint puffs upon the trees.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

structural member consisting of a continuous horizontal timber forming the lowest member of a framework or supporting structure

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

sexually exciting or gratifying

From this reading The air became sultry as the inky clouds banked higher and higher.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

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

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

a storm resulting from strong rising air currents; heavy rain or hail along with thunder and lightning

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

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

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

of the highest quality

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

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 The night wind sighed and died away in faint puffs upon the trees.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

a state of agitation or turbulent change or development

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The night wind sighed and died away in faint puffs upon the trees.

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

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.

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

From this reading A midnight hush was falling upon everything--a midnight hush and something more: great black clouds were banking up seaward, and the roses round my window were sending out heavy odours, such as flowers do before a thunderstorm.

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

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

during the time that

From this reading Then the land wind fell altogether and dead silence ensued, in which I could hear the titoki-berries opening on their little hinges, and a strange sound of a going in the high tops of the native trees in the plantation, while always the leaves of the aspens tossed and turned in sad unrest.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading The night wind sighed and died away in faint puffs upon the trees.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading That night, long after the house was quiet, I remained leaning on the sill of my bedroom window, looking down on the peaceful garden below and turning matters over in my mind.