used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After an agony of excitement, the wind-song died to a hum; they dropped less rapidly, and Raphael with a gulp opened his eyes.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading They were flying above the sea, which appeared in the morning light to be covered by a bright sheet of silver mail.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After an agony of excitement, the wind-song died to a hum; they dropped less rapidly, and Raphael with a gulp opened his eyes.
Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.
From this reading After an agony of excitement, the wind-song died to a hum; they dropped less rapidly, and Raphael with a gulp opened his eyes.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading He shut his eyes and clutched desperately at the feathers along the eagle’s back.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading After an agony of excitement, the wind-song died to a hum; they dropped less rapidly, and Raphael with a gulp opened his eyes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CASTLE OF THE SORCERER They fell earthward until Raphael felt dizzy and sick.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They were flying above the sea, which appeared in the morning light to be covered by a bright sheet of silver mail.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He shut his eyes and clutched desperately at the feathers along the eagle’s back.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He shut his eyes and clutched desperately at the feathers along the eagle’s back.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They were flying above the sea, which appeared in the morning light to be covered by a bright sheet of silver mail.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading They were flying above the sea, which appeared in the morning light to be covered by a bright sheet of silver mail.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They were flying above the sea, which appeared in the morning light to be covered by a bright sheet of silver mail.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading THE CASTLE OF THE SORCERER They fell earthward until Raphael felt dizzy and sick.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading He shut his eyes and clutched desperately at the feathers along the eagle’s back.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading They were flying above the sea, which appeared in the morning light to be covered by a bright sheet of silver mail.
desperatelyadverbUS /ˈdespərətli/
with great urgency
From this reading He shut his eyes and clutched desperately at the feathers along the eagle’s back.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading After an agony of excitement, the wind-song died to a hum; they dropped less rapidly, and Raphael with a gulp opened his eyes.
dizzyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪzi/
having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling
From this reading THE CASTLE OF THE SORCERER They fell earthward until Raphael felt dizzy and sick.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading After an agony of excitement, the wind-song died to a hum; they dropped less rapidly, and Raphael with a gulp opened his eyes.
eagle'snounUS /ˈiːɡəlz/
possessive form of “eagle” — any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight
From this reading He shut his eyes and clutched desperately at the feathers along the eagle’s back.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading His ears hummed; his stomach rose.
earthward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CASTLE OF THE SORCERER They fell earthward until Raphael felt dizzy and sick.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading After an agony of excitement, the wind-song died to a hum; they dropped less rapidly, and Raphael with a gulp opened his eyes.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He shut his eyes and clutched desperately at the feathers along the eagle’s back.
feathersnounUS /ˈfeðərz/
plural of “feather” — the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
From this reading He shut his eyes and clutched desperately at the feathers along the eagle’s back.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading THE CASTLE OF THE SORCERER They fell earthward until Raphael felt dizzy and sick.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading THE CASTLE OF THE SORCERER They fell earthward until Raphael felt dizzy and sick.
moving swiftly
From this reading They were flying above the sea, which appeared in the morning light to be covered by a bright sheet of silver mail.
gulpverbUS /ɡʌlp/
to swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one draught
From this reading After an agony of excitement, the wind-song died to a hum; they dropped less rapidly, and Raphael with a gulp opened his eyes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He shut his eyes and clutched desperately at the feathers along the eagle’s back.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His ears hummed; his stomach rose.
humverbUS /hʌm/
sing with closed lips
From this reading After an agony of excitement, the wind-song died to a hum; they dropped less rapidly, and Raphael with a gulp opened his eyes.
hummed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His ears hummed; his stomach rose.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were flying above the sea, which appeared in the morning light to be covered by a bright sheet of silver mail.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading After an agony of excitement, the wind-song died to a hum; they dropped less rapidly, and Raphael with a gulp opened his eyes.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading They were flying above the sea, which appeared in the morning light to be covered by a bright sheet of silver mail.
mailnounUS /meɪl/
the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
From this reading They were flying above the sea, which appeared in the morning light to be covered by a bright sheet of silver mail.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading They were flying above the sea, which appeared in the morning light to be covered by a bright sheet of silver mail.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CASTLE OF THE SORCERER They fell earthward until Raphael felt dizzy and sick.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading After an agony of excitement, the wind-song died to a hum; they dropped less rapidly, and Raphael with a gulp opened his eyes.
RaphaelnounUS /ˌrɑːfaɪˈel/
Italian painter whose many paintings exemplify the ideals of the High Renaissance (1483-1520)
From this reading THE CASTLE OF THE SORCERER They fell earthward until Raphael felt dizzy and sick.
with speed
From this reading After an agony of excitement, the wind-song died to a hum; they dropped less rapidly, and Raphael with a gulp opened his eyes.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading His ears hummed; his stomach rose.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading They were flying above the sea, which appeared in the morning light to be covered by a bright sheet of silver mail.
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading They were flying above the sea, which appeared in the morning light to be covered by a bright sheet of silver mail.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading He shut his eyes and clutched desperately at the feathers along the eagle’s back.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading THE CASTLE OF THE SORCERER They fell earthward until Raphael felt dizzy and sick.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading They were flying above the sea, which appeared in the morning light to be covered by a bright sheet of silver mail.
SORCERERnounUS /ˈsɔːr.sər.ər/
A person who claims or is believed to have magical powers; a wizard of dark enchantments.
From this reading THE CASTLE OF THE SORCERER They fell earthward until Raphael felt dizzy and sick.
stomachnounUS /ˈstʌmək/
an enlarged and muscular saclike organ of the alimentary canal; the principal organ of digestion
From this reading His ears hummed; his stomach rose.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CASTLE OF THE SORCERER They fell earthward until Raphael felt dizzy and sick.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE CASTLE OF THE SORCERER They fell earthward until Raphael felt dizzy and sick.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After an agony of excitement, the wind-song died to a hum; they dropped less rapidly, and Raphael with a gulp opened his eyes.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading THE CASTLE OF THE SORCERER They fell earthward until Raphael felt dizzy and sick.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were flying above the sea, which appeared in the morning light to be covered by a bright sheet of silver mail.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They were flying above the sea, which appeared in the morning light to be covered by a bright sheet of silver mail.
wind-song
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After an agony of excitement, the wind-song died to a hum; they dropped less rapidly, and Raphael with a gulp opened his eyes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading After an agony of excitement, the wind-song died to a hum; they dropped less rapidly, and Raphael with a gulp opened his eyes.
