used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The night, was wild and rather heavy, and a moist earthy odour came up from the saturation of the fallen leaves in the wet woodland.
affordedverbUS /əˈfɔːrdəd/
past form of “afford” — be able to spare or give up
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He put up the window sash and leaned out.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Away on the bank, up towards the head of the long pond, a fox barked several times.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Away on the bank, up towards the head of the long pond, a fox barked several times.
barkedverbUS /bɑːrkt/
past form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone
From this reading Away on the bank, up towards the head of the long pond, a fox barked several times.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
boardingsnounUS /ˈbɔːrdɪŋz/
plural of “boarding” — the act of passengers and crew getting aboard a ship or aircraft
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The night, was wild and rather heavy, and a moist earthy odour came up from the saturation of the fallen leaves in the wet woodland.
not accessible to view
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
earthyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrθi/
conspicuously and tastelessly indecent
From this reading The night, was wild and rather heavy, and a moist earthy odour came up from the saturation of the fallen leaves in the wet woodland.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The night, was wild and rather heavy, and a moist earthy odour came up from the saturation of the fallen leaves in the wet woodland.
feebleadjectiveUS /ˈfiːbəl/
pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/
being the right size and shape to fit as desired
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
footpathnounUS /ˈfʊtpæθ/
a trodden path
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs
From this reading Away on the bank, up towards the head of the long pond, a fox barked several times.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The night, was wild and rather heavy, and a moist earthy odour came up from the saturation of the fallen leaves in the wet woodland.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He put up the window sash and leaned out.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Away on the bank, up towards the head of the long pond, a fox barked several times.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The night, was wild and rather heavy, and a moist earthy odour came up from the saturation of the fallen leaves in the wet woodland.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
hootedverbUS /ˈhuːtɪd/
past form of “hoot” — to utter a loud clamorous shout
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The night, was wild and rather heavy, and a moist earthy odour came up from the saturation of the fallen leaves in the wet woodland.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
and nothing more
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading He put up the window sash and leaned out.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The night, was wild and rather heavy, and a moist earthy odour came up from the saturation of the fallen leaves in the wet woodland.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
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 Away on the bank, up towards the head of the long pond, a fox barked several times.
engage in
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
mistinessnoun
cloudiness resulting from haze or mist or vapor
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
moistadjectiveUS /mɔɪst/
slightly wet
From this reading The night, was wild and rather heavy, and a moist earthy odour came up from the saturation of the fallen leaves in the wet woodland.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
murkyadjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrki/
(of liquids) clouded as with sediment
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The night, was wild and rather heavy, and a moist earthy odour came up from the saturation of the fallen leaves in the wet woodland.
noiselessadjective
making no sound
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
odournounUS /ˈoʊdər/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading The night, was wild and rather heavy, and a moist earthy odour came up from the saturation of the fallen leaves in the wet woodland.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The night, was wild and rather heavy, and a moist earthy odour came up from the saturation of the fallen leaves in the wet woodland.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Away on the bank, up towards the head of the long pond, a fox barked several times.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He put up the window sash and leaned out.
owlnounUS /aʊl/
nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
select carefully from a group
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
pinions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
pondnounUS /pɑːnd/
a small lake
From this reading Away on the bank, up towards the head of the long pond, a fox barked several times.
prevailingadjectiveUS /prɪˈveɪlɪŋ/
most frequent or common
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He put up the window sash and leaned out.
on the contrary
From this reading The night, was wild and rather heavy, and a moist earthy odour came up from the saturation of the fallen leaves in the wet woodland.
sashnounUS /sæʃ/
a framework that holds the panes of a window in the window frame
From this reading He put up the window sash and leaned out.
saturationnounUS /ˌsætʃərˈeɪʃən/
the process of totally saturating something with a substance
From this reading The night, was wild and rather heavy, and a moist earthy odour came up from the saturation of the fallen leaves in the wet woodland.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Away on the bank, up towards the head of the long pond, a fox barked several times.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
sluiceverbUS /sluːs/
pour as if from a sluice
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He put up the window sash and leaned out.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Away on the bank, up towards the head of the long pond, a fox barked several times.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
in the direction of
From this reading Away on the bank, up towards the head of the long pond, a fox barked several times.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He put up the window sash and leaned out.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The night, was wild and rather heavy, and a moist earthy odour came up from the saturation of the fallen leaves in the wet woodland.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading The night, was wild and rather heavy, and a moist earthy odour came up from the saturation of the fallen leaves in the wet woodland.
at the time that
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a moon, a feeble one, and concealed behind the prevailing mistiness, but in such light as it afforded he could pick out the boardings which held up the steps of the footpath leading up to the sluice.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading The night, was wild and rather heavy, and a moist earthy odour came up from the saturation of the fallen leaves in the wet woodland.
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 He put up the window sash and leaned out.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He liked the sound, he liked all the sounds of the lonely night, and when an owl floated out on noiseless pinions and hooted beneath the murky sky--he could just make out its shadowy shape--that too, fitted in with his mood.
woodlandnounUS /ˈwʊdlænd/
land that is covered with trees and shrubs
From this reading The night, was wild and rather heavy, and a moist earthy odour came up from the saturation of the fallen leaves in the wet woodland.
