used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was after dinner.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)
From this reading Lady Anne was at one end; her brother had assumed the other.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The party at Milford Castle consisted, as the reader knows, of ten persons; and they were still seated round the table.
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading Lady Anne was at one end; her brother had assumed the other.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The party at Milford Castle consisted, as the reader knows, of ten persons; and they were still seated round the table.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Lady Anne was at one end; her brother had assumed the other.
make calm or still
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading The party at Milford Castle consisted, as the reader knows, of ten persons; and they were still seated round the table.
consistedverbUS /kənˈsɪstəd/
past form of “consist” — originate
From this reading The party at Milford Castle consisted, as the reader knows, of ten persons; and they were still seated round the table.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
Cynthia'snounUS /ˈsɪnθiəz/
possessive form of “cynthia” — (Greek mythology) the virgin goddess of the hunt and the Moon; daughter of Leto and twin sister of Apollo; identified with Roman Diana
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading It was after dinner.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Lady Anne was at one end; her brother had assumed the other.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
handmaidnoun
in a subordinate position
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lady Anne was at one end; her brother had assumed the other.
huenounUS /hjuː/
the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was after dinner.
joysnounUS /dʒɔɪz/
plural of “joy” — the emotion of great happiness
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading The party at Milford Castle consisted, as the reader knows, of ten persons; and they were still seated round the table.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Lady Anne was at one end; her brother had assumed the other.
lampsnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
memoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/
Recollections of past events.
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
Milford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The party at Milford Castle consisted, as the reader knows, of ten persons; and they were still seated round the table.
minglingnounUS /ˈmɪŋɡəlɪŋ/
the action of people mingling and coming into contact
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Lady Anne was at one end; her brother had assumed the other.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Lady Anne was at one end; her brother had assumed the other.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The party at Milford Castle consisted, as the reader knows, of ten persons; and they were still seated round the table.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading The party at Milford Castle consisted, as the reader knows, of ten persons; and they were still seated round the table.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading The party at Milford Castle consisted, as the reader knows, of ten persons; and they were still seated round the table.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The party at Milford Castle consisted, as the reader knows, of ten persons; and they were still seated round the table.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading The party at Milford Castle consisted, as the reader knows, of ten persons; and they were still seated round the table.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
not in physical motion
From this reading The party at Milford Castle consisted, as the reader knows, of ten persons; and they were still seated round the table.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The party at Milford Castle consisted, as the reader knows, of ten persons; and they were still seated round the table.
temperingnounUS /ˈtempərɪŋ/
hardening something by heat treatment
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading The party at Milford Castle consisted, as the reader knows, of ten persons; and they were still seated round the table.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The party at Milford Castle consisted, as the reader knows, of ten persons; and they were still seated round the table.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was after dinner.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The curtains were not drawn, and the purple hue of the past day spread through the dining-room, mingling with the more powerful light of the lamps, like calm, sad memories tempering present joys.
but in spite of that
From this reading The summer light had faded from the evening sky, yet there were roses in the west, and a bright star following, like a fair handmaid, upon Cynthia's footsteps through the sky.
