used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
(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 First of all, by the now ceaseless splash of the thin, glassy curve of water on its way to find out this new road to the sea.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading And on this background of ceaseless sound came two others intermittently.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading It had a sort of dreamy whisper in it, as if it were telling its first impressions, its hopes, its fears, to the river it was leaving behind.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading And on this background of ceaseless sound came two others intermittently.
canalnounUS /kəˈnæl/
(astronomy) an indistinct surface feature of Mars once thought to be a system of channels; they are now believed to be an optical illusion
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
ceaselessadjectiveUS /ˈsiːslɪs/
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
From this reading First of all, by the now ceaseless splash of the thin, glassy curve of water on its way to find out this new road to the sea.
chinknounUS /tʃɪŋk/
(ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Chinese descent
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
curvenounUS /kɜːrv/
the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes
From this reading First of all, by the now ceaseless splash of the thin, glassy curve of water on its way to find out this new road to the sea.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
the first light of day
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
dreamyadjectiveUS /ˈdriːmi/
dreamy in mood or nature
From this reading It had a sort of dreamy whisper in it, as if it were telling its first impressions, its hopes, its fears, to the river it was leaving behind.
dropsnounUS /drɑːps/
plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
plural of “fear” — an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading It had a sort of dreamy whisper in it, as if it were telling its first impressions, its hopes, its fears, to the river it was leaving behind.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading First of all, by the now ceaseless splash of the thin, glassy curve of water on its way to find out this new road to the sea.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
gaolnoun
a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
glassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡlæsi/
resembling glass in smoothness and shininess and slickness
From this reading First of all, by the now ceaseless splash of the thin, glassy curve of water on its way to find out this new road to the sea.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
death of a person
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
holdsnounUS /hoʊldz/
plural of “hold” — the act of grasping
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading It had a sort of dreamy whisper in it, as if it were telling its first impressions, its hopes, its fears, to the river it was leaving behind.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It had a sort of dreamy whisper in it, as if it were telling its first impressions, its hopes, its fears, to the river it was leaving behind.
illimitableadjective
without limits in extent or size or quantity
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
impressionsnounUS /ˌɪmˈpreʃənz/
plural of “impression” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading It had a sort of dreamy whisper in it, as if it were telling its first impressions, its hopes, its fears, to the river it was leaving behind.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
intermittentlyadverbUS /ˌɪntərˈmɪtəntli/
in an intermittent manner
From this reading And on this background of ceaseless sound came two others intermittently.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had a sort of dreamy whisper in it, as if it were telling its first impressions, its hopes, its fears, to the river it was leaving behind.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
the act of departing
From this reading It had a sort of dreamy whisper in it, as if it were telling its first impressions, its hopes, its fears, to the river it was leaving behind.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
mud-heap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading First of all, by the now ceaseless splash of the thin, glassy curve of water on its way to find out this new road to the sea.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading First of all, by the now ceaseless splash of the thin, glassy curve of water on its way to find out this new road to the sea.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And on this background of ceaseless sound came two others intermittently.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading First of all, by the now ceaseless splash of the thin, glassy curve of water on its way to find out this new road to the sea.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading First of all, by the now ceaseless splash of the thin, glassy curve of water on its way to find out this new road to the sea.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
concerned with religion or religious purposes
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
sand-stretches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
except for; apart from
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading First of all, by the now ceaseless splash of the thin, glassy curve of water on its way to find out this new road to the sea.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
sluiceverbUS /sluːs/
pour as if from a sluice
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading It had a sort of dreamy whisper in it, as if it were telling its first impressions, its hopes, its fears, to the river it was leaving behind.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading And on this background of ceaseless sound came two others intermittently.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
splashverbUS /splæʃ/
cause (a liquid) to spatter about, especially with force
From this reading First of all, by the now ceaseless splash of the thin, glassy curve of water on its way to find out this new road to the sea.
spotsnounUS /spɑːts/
spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading It had a sort of dreamy whisper in it, as if it were telling its first impressions, its hopes, its fears, to the river it was leaving behind.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading First of all, by the now ceaseless splash of the thin, glassy curve of water on its way to find out this new road to the sea.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading First of all, by the now ceaseless splash of the thin, glassy curve of water on its way to find out this new road to the sea.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading First of all, by the now ceaseless splash of the thin, glassy curve of water on its way to find out this new road to the sea.
trickledverbUS /ˈtrɪkəld/
past form of “trickle” — run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading And on this background of ceaseless sound came two others intermittently.
unfamiliaradjectiveUS /ˌʌnfəˈmɪljər/
not known or well known
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading First of all, by the now ceaseless splash of the thin, glassy curve of water on its way to find out this new road to the sea.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It had a sort of dreamy whisper in it, as if it were telling its first impressions, its hopes, its fears, to the river it was leaving behind.
in or at the place that
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading But on the night after the band had played "God save the Queen," while the first drops of sacred water trickled over the chink of the sluice into the dry bed of the canal below, its silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading It had a sort of dreamy whisper in it, as if it were telling its first impressions, its hopes, its fears, to the river it was leaving behind.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
in the company of; together with
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
workshopsnounUS /ˈwɜːrkʃɑːps/
plural of “workshop” — small workplace where handcrafts or manufacturing are done
From this reading AT THE GATES The darkness which holds the dawn was, as a rule, silent as the grave in the sand-stretches beyond the river, where the wide cut of the canal, the huge mud-heap of the gaol, with its scattered workshops and houses, showed as mere spots and lines on the illimitable plain.
