Chapter I

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

the brightest star in Taurus

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

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

From this reading I was far from home, and the spell of the eastern sea was upon me.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

the chief city of ancient Mesopotamia and capital of the ancient kingdom of Babylonia

From this reading It was the Yuletide, which men call Christmas, though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind.

for the reason that

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

a town in eastern Pennsylvania on the Lehigh River to the northwest of Philadelphia; an important center for steel production

From this reading It was the Yuletide, which men call Christmas, though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading It was the Yuletide, which men call Christmas, though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading It was the Yuletide, which men call Christmas, though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind.

a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

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

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

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

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

god of agriculture and the earth; national god of Philistines

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

conceived of or imagined or hoped for

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

lying toward or situated in the east

From this reading I was far from home, and the spell of the eastern sea was upon me.

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

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

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

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

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

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading I was far from home, and the spell of the eastern sea was upon me.

plural of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I was far from home, and the spell of the eastern sea was upon me.

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

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades

From this reading It was the Yuletide, which men call Christmas, though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading I was far from home, and the spell of the eastern sea was upon me.

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

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

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

From this reading I was far from home, and the spell of the eastern sea was upon me.

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

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

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

From this reading It was the Yuletide, which men call Christmas, though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

and nothing more

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading It was the Yuletide, which men call Christmas, though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind.

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

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

all of the living human inhabitants of the earth

From this reading It was the Yuletide, which men call Christmas, though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I was far from home, and the spell of the eastern sea was upon me.

largest city of Tennessee; located in southwestern Tennessee on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River

From this reading It was the Yuletide, which men call Christmas, though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind.

the force of workers available

From this reading It was the Yuletide, which men call Christmas, though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

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

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

negation of a word or group of words

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

many times at short intervals

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading It was the Yuletide, which men call Christmas, though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

above and across; more than

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

repeated heavy blows

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

past form of “push” — move with force

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

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

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

having some resemblance

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

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

From this reading I was far from home, and the spell of the eastern sea was upon me.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

intentionally so written (used after a printed word or phrase)

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

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

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

past form of “soar” — rise rapidly

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of

From this reading I was far from home, and the spell of the eastern sea was upon me.

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

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

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

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

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

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading It was the Yuletide, which men call Christmas, though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

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

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It was the Yuletide, which men call Christmas, though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind.

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

From this reading It was the Yuletide, which men call Christmas, though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It was the Yuletide, which men call Christmas, though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

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

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

in the direction of

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

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

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

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 And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

past form of “twinkle” — gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

the act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

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

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading I was far from home, and the spell of the eastern sea was upon me.

the local time at the 0 meridian passing through Greenwich, England; it is the same everywhere

From this reading Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

precisely as stated

From this reading And because my fathers had called me to the old town beyond, I pushed on through the shallow, new-fallen snow along the road that soared lonely up to where Aldebaran twinkled among the trees; on toward the very ancient town I had never seen but often dreamed of.

plural of “wall” — 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 Author of “Dagon,” “The Rats in the Walls,” etc. “Efficiunt daemones, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen quasi sint, conspicienda hominibus exhibeant.”--Lactantius.

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

From this reading I was far from home, and the spell of the eastern sea was upon me.

in or at the place that

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

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

From this reading It was the Yuletide, which men call Christmas, though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind.

plural of “willow” — any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

twisted (especially as in pain or struggle)

From this reading In the twilight I heard it pounding on the rocks, and I knew it lay just over the hill where the twisting willows writhed against the clearing sky and the first stars of evening.

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading It was the Yuletide, which men call Christmas, though they know in their hearts it is older than Bethlehem and Babylon, older than Memphis and mankind.