adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
AboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Above, the sky was an arc of the deepest blue through which the web of stars had scarcely yet found its way.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
amongstprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋst/
surrounded by; in the company of
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Above, the sky was an arc of the deepest blue through which the web of stars had scarcely yet found its way.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
arcnounUS /ɑːrk/
electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field
From this reading Above, the sky was an arc of the deepest blue through which the web of stars had scarcely yet found its way.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The dinner-table had been set out of doors, underneath the odorous cedar-tree.
blueadjectiveUS /bluː/
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Above, the sky was an arc of the deepest blue through which the web of stars had scarcely yet found its way.
breezenounUS /briːz/
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
carryverbUS /ˈkæri/
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
cedar-tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dinner-table had been set out of doors, underneath the odorous cedar-tree.
cigarettesnounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈets/
plural of “cigarette” — finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
coffeenounUS /ˈkɑːfi/
a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
deepestadjectiveUS /ˈdiːpəst/
superlative of “deep” — relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Above, the sky was an arc of the deepest blue through which the web of stars had scarcely yet found its way.
dinner-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dinner-table had been set out of doors, underneath the odorous cedar-tree.
doorsnounUS /dɔːrz/
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The dinner-table had been set out of doors, underneath the odorous cedar-tree.
envelopingadjectiveUS /ɪnˈveləpɪŋ/
surrounding and closing in on or hemming in
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
eveningsnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋz/
plural of “evening” — the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
faintlyadverbUS /ˈfeɪntli/
to a faint degree or weakly perceived
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
fallverbUS /fɔːl/
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
faultlessadjective
without fault or error
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/
start firing a weapon
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading Above, the sky was an arc of the deepest blue through which the web of stars had scarcely yet found its way.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
gardennounUS /ˈɡɑːrdən/
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
glowedverbUS /ɡloʊd/
past form of “glow” — emit a steady even light without flames
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The dinner-table had been set out of doors, underneath the odorous cedar-tree.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Above, the sky was an arc of the deepest blue through which the web of stars had scarcely yet found its way.
JunenounUS /dʒuːn/
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
leavesnounUS /liːvz/
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
lightestadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪtəst/
superlative of “light” — of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
liqueursnounUS /lɪˈkɜːrz/
plural of “liqueur” — strong highly flavored sweet liquor usually drunk after a meal
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
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 The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
missionnounUS /ˈmɪʃən/
an organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
musicnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪk/
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
oarsnounUS /ɔːrz/
plural of “oar” — an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
odorousadjectiveUS /ˈoʊdərəs/
having odor or a characteristic odor
From this reading The dinner-table had been set out of doors, underneath the odorous cedar-tree.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The dinner-table had been set out of doors, underneath the odorous cedar-tree.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
partynounUS /ˈpɑːrti/
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
perfumesnounUS /pərˈfjuːmz/
plural of “perfume” — a distinctive odor that is pleasant
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
pointsnounUS /pɔɪnts/
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
puntverbUS /pʌnt/
kick the ball
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
rustlingnounUS /ˈrʌslɪŋ/
the stealing of cattle
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
SanctuarynounUS /ˈsæŋk.tʃu.er.i/
A place of safety, refuge, or holy retreat within the academy.
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
scarcelyadverbUS /ˈskersli/
only a very short time before
From this reading Above, the sky was an arc of the deepest blue through which the web of stars had scarcely yet found its way.
seemsverbUS /siːmz/
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The dinner-table had been set out of doors, underneath the odorous cedar-tree.
skynounUS /skaɪ/
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Above, the sky was an arc of the deepest blue through which the web of stars had scarcely yet found its way.
soundnounUS /saʊnd/
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
specksnounUS /speks/
plural of “speck” — a very small spot
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
splashverbUS /splæʃ/
cause (a liquid) to spatter about, especially with force
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
starsnounUS /stɑːrz/
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Above, the sky was an arc of the deepest blue through which the web of stars had scarcely yet found its way.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
streamnounUS /striːm/
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Above, the sky was an arc of the deepest blue through which the web of stars had scarcely yet found its way.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading The little party at The Sanctuary sat over their coffee and liqueurs long after the fall of the first twilight, till the points of their cigarettes glowed like little specks of fire through the enveloping darkness.
underneathprepositionUS /ˌʌndərˈniːθ/
directly under, often hidden by what is above
From this reading The dinner-table had been set out of doors, underneath the odorous cedar-tree.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
voicesnounUS /ˈvɔɪsəz/
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Every now and then came the sound of the splash of oars from the river; more rarely still, the murmur of light voices as a punt passed up the stream.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Above, the sky was an arc of the deepest blue through which the web of stars had scarcely yet found its way.
webnounUS /web/
an intricate network suggesting something that was formed by weaving or interweaving
From this reading Above, the sky was an arc of the deepest blue through which the web of stars had scarcely yet found its way.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It was one of those faultless June evenings when the only mission of the faintly stirring breeze seems to be to carry perfumes from garden to garden and to make the lightest of music amongst the rustling leaves.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Above, the sky was an arc of the deepest blue through which the web of stars had scarcely yet found its way.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Above, the sky was an arc of the deepest blue through which the web of stars had scarcely yet found its way.
