used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The night breeze was damp and warm, touching the long lashes on delicate eyelids like lips brushing them in a caress.
(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 A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading THE PROMISE Descending the terrace to the garden, the guests had dispersed among the shady paths and under the vine-covered trellises.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE PROMISE Descending the terrace to the garden, the guests had dispersed among the shady paths and under the vine-covered trellises.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading The night breeze was damp and warm, touching the long lashes on delicate eyelids like lips brushing them in a caress.
brushingnounUS /ˈbrʌʃɪŋ/
the act of brushing your teeth
From this reading The night breeze was damp and warm, touching the long lashes on delicate eyelids like lips brushing them in a caress.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
caressnounUS /kərˈes/
a gentle affectionate stroking (or something resembling it)
From this reading The night breeze was damp and warm, touching the long lashes on delicate eyelids like lips brushing them in a caress.
cultivatedadjectiveUS /ˈkʌltəveɪtɪd/
(of land or fields) prepared for raising crops by plowing or fertilizing
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading The night breeze was damp and warm, touching the long lashes on delicate eyelids like lips brushing them in a caress.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The invisible stars of the jasmine perfumed the darkness; the rich fragrance of fruit, too, was even stronger than in the island gardens.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading The night breeze was damp and warm, touching the long lashes on delicate eyelids like lips brushing them in a caress.
DescendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsendɪŋ/
coming down or downward
From this reading THE PROMISE Descending the terrace to the garden, the guests had dispersed among the shady paths and under the vine-covered trellises.
dispersedadjectiveUS /dɪˈspɜːrst/
distributed or spread over a considerable extent
From this reading THE PROMISE Descending the terrace to the garden, the guests had dispersed among the shady paths and under the vine-covered trellises.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Do you wish me to remain here?
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
emanatedverbUS /ˈeməneɪtɪd/
past form of “emanate” — proceed or issue forth, as from a source
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
divisible by two
From this reading The invisible stars of the jasmine perfumed the darkness; the rich fragrance of fruit, too, was even stronger than in the island gardens.
exileverbUS /ˈeɡzaɪl/
expel from a country
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
exiledverbUS /ˈeɡzaɪld/
past form of “exile” — expel from a country
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
eyelidsnounUS /ˈaɪlɪdz/
plural of “eyelid” — either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading The night breeze was damp and warm, touching the long lashes on delicate eyelids like lips brushing them in a caress.
fertilitynounUS /fərˈtɪləti/
the ratio of live births in an area to the population of that area; expressed per 1000 population per year
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
fragrancenounUS /ˈfreɪɡrəns/
a distinctive odor that is pleasant
From this reading The invisible stars of the jasmine perfumed the darkness; the rich fragrance of fruit, too, was even stronger than in the island gardens.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant
From this reading The invisible stars of the jasmine perfumed the darkness; the rich fragrance of fruit, too, was even stronger than in the island gardens.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading THE PROMISE Descending the terrace to the garden, the guests had dispersed among the shady paths and under the vine-covered trellises.
plural of “garden” — a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading The invisible stars of the jasmine perfumed the darkness; the rich fragrance of fruit, too, was even stronger than in the island gardens.
girdlenounUS /ˈɡɜːrdəl/
an encircling or ringlike structure
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading THE PROMISE Descending the terrace to the garden, the guests had dispersed among the shady paths and under the vine-covered trellises.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE PROMISE Descending the terrace to the garden, the guests had dispersed among the shady paths and under the vine-covered trellises.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Do you wish me to remain here?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The night breeze was damp and warm, touching the long lashes on delicate eyelids like lips brushing them in a caress.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading The invisible stars of the jasmine perfumed the darkness; the rich fragrance of fruit, too, was even stronger than in the island gardens.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading The invisible stars of the jasmine perfumed the darkness; the rich fragrance of fruit, too, was even stronger than in the island gardens.
jasminenounUS /ˈdʒæzmən/
any of several shrubs and vines of the genus Jasminum chiefly native to Asia
From this reading The invisible stars of the jasmine perfumed the darkness; the rich fragrance of fruit, too, was even stronger than in the island gardens.
lashesnounUS /ˈlæʃɪz/
plural of “lash” — any of the short curved hairs that grow from the edges of the eyelids
From this reading The night breeze was damp and warm, touching the long lashes on delicate eyelids like lips brushing them in a caress.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The night breeze was damp and warm, touching the long lashes on delicate eyelids like lips brushing them in a caress.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading The night breeze was damp and warm, touching the long lashes on delicate eyelids like lips brushing them in a caress.
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 night breeze was damp and warm, touching the long lashes on delicate eyelids like lips brushing them in a caress.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Do you wish me to remain here?
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The night breeze was damp and warm, touching the long lashes on delicate eyelids like lips brushing them in a caress.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The invisible stars of the jasmine perfumed the darkness; the rich fragrance of fruit, too, was even stronger than in the island gardens.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The night breeze was damp and warm, touching the long lashes on delicate eyelids like lips brushing them in a caress.
pathsnounUS /pæðz/
plural of “path” — a course of conduct
From this reading THE PROMISE Descending the terrace to the garden, the guests had dispersed among the shady paths and under the vine-covered trellises.
perfumedadjectiveUS /pərˈfjuːmd/
filled or impregnated with perfume
From this reading The invisible stars of the jasmine perfumed the darkness; the rich fragrance of fruit, too, was even stronger than in the island gardens.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading THE PROMISE Descending the terrace to the garden, the guests had dispersed among the shady paths and under the vine-covered trellises.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading "Do you wish me to remain here?
possessing material wealth
From this reading The invisible stars of the jasmine perfumed the darkness; the rich fragrance of fruit, too, was even stronger than in the island gardens.
shadyadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪdi/
quiet, dark, or concealed
From this reading THE PROMISE Descending the terrace to the garden, the guests had dispersed among the shady paths and under the vine-covered trellises.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading The invisible stars of the jasmine perfumed the darkness; the rich fragrance of fruit, too, was even stronger than in the island gardens.
comparative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The invisible stars of the jasmine perfumed the darkness; the rich fragrance of fruit, too, was even stronger than in the island gardens.
confined on all sides
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
terracenounUS /ˈterəs/
usually paved outdoor area adjoining a residence
From this reading THE PROMISE Descending the terrace to the garden, the guests had dispersed among the shady paths and under the vine-covered trellises.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The invisible stars of the jasmine perfumed the darkness; the rich fragrance of fruit, too, was even stronger than in the island gardens.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PROMISE Descending the terrace to the garden, the guests had dispersed among the shady paths and under the vine-covered trellises.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The night breeze was damp and warm, touching the long lashes on delicate eyelids like lips brushing them in a caress.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE PROMISE Descending the terrace to the garden, the guests had dispersed among the shady paths and under the vine-covered trellises.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The invisible stars of the jasmine perfumed the darkness; the rich fragrance of fruit, too, was even stronger than in the island gardens.
arousing affect
From this reading The night breeze was damp and warm, touching the long lashes on delicate eyelids like lips brushing them in a caress.
a just detectable amount
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
trellises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PROMISE Descending the terrace to the garden, the guests had dispersed among the shady paths and under the vine-covered trellises.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading THE PROMISE Descending the terrace to the garden, the guests had dispersed among the shady paths and under the vine-covered trellises.
vine-covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PROMISE Descending the terrace to the garden, the guests had dispersed among the shady paths and under the vine-covered trellises.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading The night breeze was damp and warm, touching the long lashes on delicate eyelids like lips brushing them in a caress.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The night breeze was damp and warm, touching the long lashes on delicate eyelids like lips brushing them in a caress.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A vivid power of fertility emanated from this narrow trace of cultivated earth, which appeared like a place of exile, surrounded by a girdle of water, and, like an exiled soul, all the more intense.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading "Do you wish me to remain here?
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Do you wish me to remain here?
