used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THROUGH THE DARK The night had gathered swiftly behind a curtain of rain.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Garth, glancing out the window of the train, saw that darkness was already close upon a somber and resentful world.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The rain clung to their drooping branches like tears, so that they expressed an attitude of mourning which their color clothed convincingly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Garth, glancing out the window of the train, saw that darkness was already close upon a somber and resentful world.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The roaring of the train was subdued, as if it hesitated to disturb the oppressive silence through which it passed.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading The rain clung to their drooping branches like tears, so that they expressed an attitude of mourning which their color clothed convincingly.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading THROUGH THE DARK The night had gathered swiftly behind a curtain of rain.
birches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pines, hemlocks, and birches stretched limitlessly.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading The rain clung to their drooping branches like tears, so that they expressed an attitude of mourning which their color clothed convincingly.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Garth, glancing out the window of the train, saw that darkness was already close upon a somber and resentful world.
clothedadjectiveUS /kloʊðd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading The rain clung to their drooping branches like tears, so that they expressed an attitude of mourning which their color clothed convincingly.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading The rain clung to their drooping branches like tears, so that they expressed an attitude of mourning which their color clothed convincingly.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading The rain clung to their drooping branches like tears, so that they expressed an attitude of mourning which their color clothed convincingly.
convincinglyadverbUS /kənˈvɪnsɪŋli/
in a convincing manner
From this reading The rain clung to their drooping branches like tears, so that they expressed an attitude of mourning which their color clothed convincingly.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading THROUGH THE DARK The night had gathered swiftly behind a curtain of rain.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading THROUGH THE DARK The night had gathered swiftly behind a curtain of rain.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Garth, glancing out the window of the train, saw that darkness was already close upon a somber and resentful world.
disturbverbUS /dɪˈstɜːrb/
move deeply
From this reading The roaring of the train was subdued, as if it hesitated to disturb the oppressive silence through which it passed.
droopingadjectiveUS /ˈdruːpɪŋ/
weak from exhaustion
From this reading The rain clung to their drooping branches like tears, so that they expressed an attitude of mourning which their color clothed convincingly.
communicated in words
From this reading The rain clung to their drooping branches like tears, so that they expressed an attitude of mourning which their color clothed convincingly.
Garth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Garth, glancing out the window of the train, saw that darkness was already close upon a somber and resentful world.
brought together in one place
From this reading THROUGH THE DARK The night had gathered swiftly behind a curtain of rain.
-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Garth, glancing out the window of the train, saw that darkness was already close upon a somber and resentful world.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THROUGH THE DARK The night had gathered swiftly behind a curtain of rain.
hemlocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pines, hemlocks, and birches stretched limitlessly.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading The roaring of the train was subdued, as if it hesitated to disturb the oppressive silence through which it passed.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The roaring of the train was subdued, as if it hesitated to disturb the oppressive silence through which it passed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The roaring of the train was subdued, as if it hesitated to disturb the oppressive silence through which it passed.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The rain clung to their drooping branches like tears, so that they expressed an attitude of mourning which their color clothed convincingly.
limitlessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pines, hemlocks, and birches stretched limitlessly.
mourningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
From this reading The rain clung to their drooping branches like tears, so that they expressed an attitude of mourning which their color clothed convincingly.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THROUGH THE DARK The night had gathered swiftly behind a curtain of rain.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THROUGH THE DARK The night had gathered swiftly behind a curtain of rain.
oppressiveadjectiveUS /əˈpresɪv/
weighing heavily on the senses or spirit
From this reading The roaring of the train was subdued, as if it hesitated to disturb the oppressive silence through which it passed.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Garth, glancing out the window of the train, saw that darkness was already close upon a somber and resentful world.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The roaring of the train was subdued, as if it hesitated to disturb the oppressive silence through which it passed.
PinesnounUS /paɪnz/
plural of “pine” — a coniferous tree
From this reading Pines, hemlocks, and birches stretched limitlessly.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading THROUGH THE DARK The night had gathered swiftly behind a curtain of rain.
resentfuladjectiveUS /rɪˈzentfəl/
full of or marked by resentment or indignant ill will
From this reading Garth, glancing out the window of the train, saw that darkness was already close upon a somber and resentful world.
roaringnounUS /ˈrɔːrɪŋ/
a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading The roaring of the train was subdued, as if it hesitated to disturb the oppressive silence through which it passed.
cut with a saw
From this reading Garth, glancing out the window of the train, saw that darkness was already close upon a somber and resentful world.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The roaring of the train was subdued, as if it hesitated to disturb the oppressive silence through which it passed.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The rain clung to their drooping branches like tears, so that they expressed an attitude of mourning which their color clothed convincingly.
somberadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːmbər/
lacking brightness or color; dull
From this reading Garth, glancing out the window of the train, saw that darkness was already close upon a somber and resentful world.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Pines, hemlocks, and birches stretched limitlessly.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading The roaring of the train was subdued, as if it hesitated to disturb the oppressive silence through which it passed.
in a swift manner
From this reading THROUGH THE DARK The night had gathered swiftly behind a curtain of rain.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading The rain clung to their drooping branches like tears, so that they expressed an attitude of mourning which their color clothed convincingly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Garth, glancing out the window of the train, saw that darkness was already close upon a somber and resentful world.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THROUGH THE DARK The night had gathered swiftly behind a curtain of rain.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The rain clung to their drooping branches like tears, so that they expressed an attitude of mourning which their color clothed convincingly.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The rain clung to their drooping branches like tears, so that they expressed an attitude of mourning which their color clothed convincingly.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading THROUGH THE DARK The night had gathered swiftly behind a curtain of rain.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The rain clung to their drooping branches like tears, so that they expressed an attitude of mourning which their color clothed convincingly.
create by training and teaching
From this reading Garth, glancing out the window of the train, saw that darkness was already close upon a somber and resentful world.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Garth, glancing out the window of the train, saw that darkness was already close upon a somber and resentful world.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Garth, glancing out the window of the train, saw that darkness was already close upon a somber and resentful world.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The rain clung to their drooping branches like tears, so that they expressed an attitude of mourning which their color clothed convincingly.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Garth, glancing out the window of the train, saw that darkness was already close upon a somber and resentful world.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Garth, glancing out the window of the train, saw that darkness was already close upon a somber and resentful world.
