used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE NUBIAN MUTE I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical brilliance.
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most extraordinary case.
acquiredadjectiveUS /əˈkwaɪərd/
gotten through environmental forces
From this reading Every new datum acquired, instead of serving to elucidate, seemed only more completely to obscure the issue.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
bathedverbUS /beɪðd/
past form of “bathe” — cleanse the entire body
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most extraordinary case.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most extraordinary case.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading THE NUBIAN MUTE I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical brilliance.
brilliancenounUS /ˈbrɪljəns/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading THE NUBIAN MUTE I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical brilliance.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most extraordinary case.
an occurrence of something
From this reading But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most extraordinary case.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Every new datum acquired, instead of serving to elucidate, seemed only more completely to obscure the issue.
datumnounUS /ˈdætəm/
an item of factual information derived from measurement or research
From this reading Every new datum acquired, instead of serving to elucidate, seemed only more completely to obscure the issue.
definedadjectiveUS /dɪˈfaɪnd/
clearly characterized or delimited
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
despairedverbUS /dɪˈsperd/
past form of “despair” — abandon hope; give up hope; lose heart
From this reading Mystery revealed itself within mystery, and this was indeed a labyrinth, to the heart of which I sometimes despaired of penetrating.
edgesnounUS /ˈedʒəz/
plural of “edge” — the boundary of a surface
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
elucidateverbUS /ɪˈluːsədeɪt/
make clear and (more) comprehensible
From this reading Every new datum acquired, instead of serving to elucidate, seemed only more completely to obscure the issue.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
an old word for “before”
From this reading But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most extraordinary case.
divisible by two
From this reading But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most extraordinary case.
at any time
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every new datum acquired, instead of serving to elucidate, seemed only more completely to obscure the issue.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most extraordinary case.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE NUBIAN MUTE I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical brilliance.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most extraordinary case.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Mystery revealed itself within mystery, and this was indeed a labyrinth, to the heart of which I sometimes despaired of penetrating.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE NUBIAN MUTE I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical brilliance.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Mystery revealed itself within mystery, and this was indeed a labyrinth, to the heart of which I sometimes despaired of penetrating.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Every new datum acquired, instead of serving to elucidate, seemed only more completely to obscure the issue.
issueverbUS /ˈɪʃuː/
prepare and issue for public distribution or sale
From this reading Every new datum acquired, instead of serving to elucidate, seemed only more completely to obscure the issue.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Mystery revealed itself within mystery, and this was indeed a labyrinth, to the heart of which I sometimes despaired of penetrating.
labyrinthnounUS /ˈlæbərɪnθ/
complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost
From this reading Mystery revealed itself within mystery, and this was indeed a labyrinth, to the heart of which I sometimes despaired of penetrating.
landscapenounUS /ˈlændskeɪp/
an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
linedadjectiveUS /laɪnd/
bordered by a line of things
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE NUBIAN MUTE I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical brilliance.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most extraordinary case.
the world of commercial activity where goods and services are bought and sold
From this reading THE NUBIAN MUTE I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical brilliance.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
the light of the Moon
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
used to form the superlative
From this reading But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most extraordinary case.
MUTEadjectiveUS /mjuːt/
expressed without speech
From this reading THE NUBIAN MUTE I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical brilliance.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading Mystery revealed itself within mystery, and this was indeed a labyrinth, to the heart of which I sometimes despaired of penetrating.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Every new datum acquired, instead of serving to elucidate, seemed only more completely to obscure the issue.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most extraordinary case.
being perceived or observed
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
NUBIANnounUS /ˈnjuːbiən/
a native or inhabitant of Nubia
From this reading THE NUBIAN MUTE I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical brilliance.
obliviousadjectiveUS /əˈblɪviəs/
(followed by “to” or “of”) lacking conscious awareness of
From this reading But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most extraordinary case.
obscureverbUS /əbsˈkjʊr/
make less visible or unclear
From this reading Every new datum acquired, instead of serving to elucidate, seemed only more completely to obscure the issue.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE NUBIAN MUTE I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical brilliance.
and nothing more
From this reading Every new datum acquired, instead of serving to elucidate, seemed only more completely to obscure the issue.
penetratingadjectiveUS /ˈpenətreɪtɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading Mystery revealed itself within mystery, and this was indeed a labyrinth, to the heart of which I sometimes despaired of penetrating.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
radiancenounUS /ˈreɪdiːəns/
the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
reflectionsnounUS /rɪˈflekʃənz/
plural of “reflection” — a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most extraordinary case.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
respectingverbUS /riˈspektɪŋ/
-ing form of “respect” — regard highly; think much of
From this reading But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most extraordinary case.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading THE NUBIAN MUTE I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical brilliance.
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading Mystery revealed itself within mystery, and this was indeed a labyrinth, to the heart of which I sometimes despaired of penetrating.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Every new datum acquired, instead of serving to elucidate, seemed only more completely to obscure the issue.
servingnounUS /ˈsɜːrvɪŋ/
an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
From this reading Every new datum acquired, instead of serving to elucidate, seemed only more completely to obscure the issue.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading THE NUBIAN MUTE I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical brilliance.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Mystery revealed itself within mystery, and this was indeed a labyrinth, to the heart of which I sometimes despaired of penetrating.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NUBIAN MUTE I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical brilliance.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
thicklyadverbUS /ˈθɪkli/
spoken with poor articulation as if with a thick tongue
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most extraordinary case.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading THE NUBIAN MUTE I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical brilliance.
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 landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
tropicaladjectiveUS /ˈtrɑːpɪkəl/
relating to or situated in or characteristic of the tropics (the region on either side of the equator)
From this reading THE NUBIAN MUTE I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical brilliance.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Mystery revealed itself within mystery, and this was indeed a labyrinth, to the heart of which I sometimes despaired of penetrating.
