used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CHECKMATED A mass of jagged, elongated clouds hovered like scowling specters over Azurecrest.
activitiesnounUS /ækˈtɪvətiz/
plural of “activity” — any specific behavior
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading A raw wind sighed moodily among the birches and hemlocks as The Gray Phantom reached the apex of the hill.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A raw wind sighed moodily among the birches and hemlocks as The Gray Phantom reached the apex of the hill.
apexnounUS /ˈeɪpeks/
the highest point (of something)
From this reading A raw wind sighed moodily among the birches and hemlocks as The Gray Phantom reached the apex of the hill.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A raw wind sighed moodily among the birches and hemlocks as The Gray Phantom reached the apex of the hill.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The Phantom turned away and walked a few paces toward the fence.
Azurecrest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CHECKMATED A mass of jagged, elongated clouds hovered like scowling specters over Azurecrest.
birches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A raw wind sighed moodily among the birches and hemlocks as The Gray Phantom reached the apex of the hill.
CHECKMATED
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CHECKMATED A mass of jagged, elongated clouds hovered like scowling specters over Azurecrest.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading CHECKMATED A mass of jagged, elongated clouds hovered like scowling specters over Azurecrest.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The white trimmings of doors and windows gleamed faintly in the dusk and here and there a light twinkled through the trees.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading The white trimmings of doors and windows gleamed faintly in the dusk and here and there a light twinkled through the trees.
elongatedadjectiveUS /ɪˈlɔːŋɡeɪtəd/
drawn out or made longer spatially
From this reading CHECKMATED A mass of jagged, elongated clouds hovered like scowling specters over Azurecrest.
faintlyadverbUS /ˈfeɪntli/
to a faint degree or weakly perceived
From this reading The white trimmings of doors and windows gleamed faintly in the dusk and here and there a light twinkled through the trees.
enclose with a fence
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The Phantom turned away and walked a few paces toward the fence.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The white trimmings of doors and windows gleamed faintly in the dusk and here and there a light twinkled through the trees.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading A raw wind sighed moodily among the birches and hemlocks as The Gray Phantom reached the apex of the hill.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
hemlocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A raw wind sighed moodily among the birches and hemlocks as The Gray Phantom reached the apex of the hill.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading The white trimmings of doors and windows gleamed faintly in the dusk and here and there a light twinkled through the trees.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading A raw wind sighed moodily among the birches and hemlocks as The Gray Phantom reached the apex of the hill.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
hoveredverbUS /ˈhʌvərd/
past form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
From this reading CHECKMATED A mass of jagged, elongated clouds hovered like scowling specters over Azurecrest.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The white trimmings of doors and windows gleamed faintly in the dusk and here and there a light twinkled through the trees.
jaggedadjectiveUS /ˈdʒæɡəd/
having a sharply uneven surface or outline
From this reading CHECKMATED A mass of jagged, elongated clouds hovered like scowling specters over Azurecrest.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The white trimmings of doors and windows gleamed faintly in the dusk and here and there a light twinkled through the trees.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading CHECKMATED A mass of jagged, elongated clouds hovered like scowling specters over Azurecrest.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading CHECKMATED A mass of jagged, elongated clouds hovered like scowling specters over Azurecrest.
moodilyadverb
in a moody manner
From this reading A raw wind sighed moodily among the birches and hemlocks as The Gray Phantom reached the apex of the hill.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CHECKMATED A mass of jagged, elongated clouds hovered like scowling specters over Azurecrest.
on one occasion
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading CHECKMATED A mass of jagged, elongated clouds hovered like scowling specters over Azurecrest.
pacesnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪz/
plural of “pace” — the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading The Phantom turned away and walked a few paces toward the fence.
PhantomnounUS /ˈfæn.təm/
A ghost or apparition; a figment of the imagination or a hidden dweller.
From this reading A raw wind sighed moodily among the birches and hemlocks as The Gray Phantom reached the apex of the hill.
picketnounUS /ˈpɪkɪt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
rawadjectiveUS /rɑː/
(used especially of commodities) being unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes
From this reading A raw wind sighed moodily among the birches and hemlocks as The Gray Phantom reached the apex of the hill.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading A raw wind sighed moodily among the birches and hemlocks as The Gray Phantom reached the apex of the hill.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
scowlingadjectiveUS /ˈskaʊlɪŋ/
sullen or unfriendly in appearance
From this reading CHECKMATED A mass of jagged, elongated clouds hovered like scowling specters over Azurecrest.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading A raw wind sighed moodily among the birches and hemlocks as The Gray Phantom reached the apex of the hill.
specters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CHECKMATED A mass of jagged, elongated clouds hovered like scowling specters over Azurecrest.
fastener consisting of a narrow strip of welded metal used to join steel members
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A raw wind sighed moodily among the birches and hemlocks as The Gray Phantom reached the apex of the hill.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The white trimmings of doors and windows gleamed faintly in the dusk and here and there a light twinkled through the trees.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The white trimmings of doors and windows gleamed faintly in the dusk and here and there a light twinkled through the trees.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The white trimmings of doors and windows gleamed faintly in the dusk and here and there a light twinkled through the trees.
trimmingsnounUS /ˈtrɪmɪŋz/
the accessories that normally accompany (something or some activity)
From this reading The white trimmings of doors and windows gleamed faintly in the dusk and here and there a light twinkled through the trees.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The Phantom turned away and walked a few paces toward the fence.
twinkledverbUS /ˈtwɪŋkəld/
past form of “twinkle” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading The white trimmings of doors and windows gleamed faintly in the dusk and here and there a light twinkled through the trees.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading The Phantom turned away and walked a few paces toward the fence.
a Caucasian
From this reading The white trimmings of doors and windows gleamed faintly in the dusk and here and there a light twinkled through the trees.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading A raw wind sighed moodily among the birches and hemlocks as The Gray Phantom reached the apex of the hill.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The white trimmings of doors and windows gleamed faintly in the dusk and here and there a light twinkled through the trees.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Stopping within fifty yards of the high picket fence, he glanced toward the house that once had served him as a retreat and shelter against the activities of the police.
