used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A trio of phantom figures gliding cautiously up iron-gray rocks, wearing a ghastly hue in the dim light of the stars.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Now and then they pause in the shade of a crag, and listen with upturned faces.
aperturenounUS /ˈæpərtʃər/
a device that controls amount of light admitted
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
a distinct feature or element in a problem
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE DEATH LEAGUE AT WORK.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
the chest considered as the place where secret thoughts are kept
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading A trio of phantom figures gliding cautiously up iron-gray rocks, wearing a ghastly hue in the dim light of the stars.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
a steep high face of rock
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
cragnounUS /kræɡ/
a steep rugged rock or cliff
From this reading Now and then they pause in the shade of a crag, and listen with upturned faces.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading THE DEATH LEAGUE AT WORK.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading A trio of phantom figures gliding cautiously up iron-gray rocks, wearing a ghastly hue in the dim light of the stars.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Now and then they pause in the shade of a crag, and listen with upturned faces.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading A trio of phantom figures gliding cautiously up iron-gray rocks, wearing a ghastly hue in the dim light of the stars.
forebodingnounUS /fɔːrˈboʊdɪŋ/
a feeling of evil to come
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
ghastlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡæstli/
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
From this reading A trio of phantom figures gliding cautiously up iron-gray rocks, wearing a ghastly hue in the dim light of the stars.
glidingnounUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of flying a glider
From this reading A trio of phantom figures gliding cautiously up iron-gray rocks, wearing a ghastly hue in the dim light of the stars.
depressingly dark
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
haltverbUS /hɔːlt/
cause to stop
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
huenounUS /hjuː/
the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
From this reading A trio of phantom figures gliding cautiously up iron-gray rocks, wearing a ghastly hue in the dim light of the stars.
ten 10s
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A trio of phantom figures gliding cautiously up iron-gray rocks, wearing a ghastly hue in the dim light of the stars.
iron-graynoun
the color of freshly broken cast iron
From this reading A trio of phantom figures gliding cautiously up iron-gray rocks, wearing a ghastly hue in the dim light of the stars.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
immediately past
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
LEAGUEnounUS /liːɡ/
an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members
From this reading THE DEATH LEAGUE AT WORK.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A trio of phantom figures gliding cautiously up iron-gray rocks, wearing a ghastly hue in the dim light of the stars.
hear with intention
From this reading Now and then they pause in the shade of a crag, and listen with upturned faces.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
nestleverbUS /ˈnesəl/
move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
nightingalenounUS /ˈnaɪtɪŋɡeɪl/
European songbird noted for its melodious nocturnal song
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now and then they pause in the shade of a crag, and listen with upturned faces.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A trio of phantom figures gliding cautiously up iron-gray rocks, wearing a ghastly hue in the dim light of the stars.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading Now and then they pause in the shade of a crag, and listen with upturned faces.
perchedverbUS /pɜːrtʃt/
past form of “perch” — sit, as on a branch
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
by chance
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
phantomnounUS /ˈfæn.təm/
A ghost or apparition; a figment of the imagination or a hidden dweller.
From this reading A trio of phantom figures gliding cautiously up iron-gray rocks, wearing a ghastly hue in the dim light of the stars.
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading A trio of phantom figures gliding cautiously up iron-gray rocks, wearing a ghastly hue in the dim light of the stars.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading Now and then they pause in the shade of a crag, and listen with upturned faces.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
sleepsnounUS /sliːps/
plural of “sleep” — a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading A trio of phantom figures gliding cautiously up iron-gray rocks, wearing a ghastly hue in the dim light of the stars.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DEATH LEAGUE AT WORK.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Now and then they pause in the shade of a crag, and listen with upturned faces.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now and then they pause in the shade of a crag, and listen with upturned faces.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
the upper part of anything
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
trionounUS /ˈtriːoʊ/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading A trio of phantom figures gliding cautiously up iron-gray rocks, wearing a ghastly hue in the dim light of the stars.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A trio of phantom figures gliding cautiously up iron-gray rocks, wearing a ghastly hue in the dim light of the stars.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
upturnedadjective
having been turned so that the bottom is no longer the bottom
From this reading Now and then they pause in the shade of a crag, and listen with upturned faces.
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
From this reading A trio of phantom figures gliding cautiously up iron-gray rocks, wearing a ghastly hue in the dim light of the stars.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
at the time that
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But, not a sound comes to their ears; the night overhead is as silent as that which sleeps upon the bosom of the stream a hundred feet below.
belonging to which person
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now and then they pause in the shade of a crag, and listen with upturned faces.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading At last, when within perhaps thirty feet of the top of the cliff, they halt at the mouth of a cave which seems to nestle far within the rocks, and whose gloomy aspect, now relieved by the song of a nightingale perched over the aperture, is as foreboding as such a spot can well be.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading THE DEATH LEAGUE AT WORK.
