used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading For as he waited for her inevitable death, his mind had followed that long life of his own, year after year, day after day, hour after hour.
altarnounUS /ˈɔːltər/
the table in Christian churches where communion is given
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading DAWN Had an hour passed, or twain?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A long lifetime; long as his own; that long life in which he had seen, had felt, so much.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
next to; at the side of
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
brighteradjectiveUS /ˈbraɪtər/
comparative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
BrucenounUS /bruːs/
Australian physician and bacteriologist who described the bacterium that causes undulant fever or brucellosis (1855-1931)
From this reading Ninian Bruce could not tell.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Ninian Bruce could not tell.
the first light of day
From this reading DAWN Had an hour passed, or twain?
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading For as he waited for her inevitable death, his mind had followed that long life of his own, year after year, day after day, hour after hour.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading For as he waited for her inevitable death, his mind had followed that long life of his own, year after year, day after day, hour after hour.
draperynounUS /ˈdreɪpəri/
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading A long lifetime; long as his own; that long life in which he had seen, had felt, so much.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading For as he waited for her inevitable death, his mind had followed that long life of his own, year after year, day after day, hour after hour.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
a young female
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
glitteringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading DAWN Had an hour passed, or twain?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading For as he waited for her inevitable death, his mind had followed that long life of his own, year after year, day after day, hour after hour.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A long lifetime; long as his own; that long life in which he had seen, had felt, so much.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading DAWN Had an hour passed, or twain?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A long lifetime; long as his own; that long life in which he had seen, had felt, so much.
inevitableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnevətəbəl/
incapable of being avoided or prevented
From this reading For as he waited for her inevitable death, his mind had followed that long life of his own, year after year, day after day, hour after hour.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
kneelingnounUS /ˈniːlɪŋ/
supporting yourself on your knees
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading A long lifetime; long as his own; that long life in which he had seen, had felt, so much.
lifetimenounUS /ˈlaɪftaɪm/
the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death)
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
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 A long lifetime; long as his own; that long life in which he had seen, had felt, so much.
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading For as he waited for her inevitable death, his mind had followed that long life of his own, year after year, day after day, hour after hour.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading A long lifetime; long as his own; that long life in which he had seen, had felt, so much.
Ninian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ninian Bruce could not tell.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Ninian Bruce could not tell.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For as he waited for her inevitable death, his mind had followed that long life of his own, year after year, day after day, hour after hour.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading DAWN Had an hour passed, or twain?
have ownership or possession of
From this reading A long lifetime; long as his own; that long life in which he had seen, had felt, so much.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading DAWN Had an hour passed, or twain?
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
red-and-gold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading A long lifetime; long as his own; that long life in which he had seen, had felt, so much.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A long lifetime; long as his own; that long life in which he had seen, had felt, so much.
stainedadjectiveUS /steɪnd/
marked or dyed or discolored with foreign matter
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
express in words
From this reading Ninian Bruce could not tell.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
in or at that place or location
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
trailingnounUS /ˈtreɪlɪŋ/
the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
twainnounUS /tweɪn/
two items of the same kind
From this reading DAWN Had an hour passed, or twain?
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading For as he waited for her inevitable death, his mind had followed that long life of his own, year after year, day after day, hour after hour.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A long lifetime; long as his own; that long life in which he had seen, had felt, so much.
a Caucasian
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
in the company of; together with
From this reading It seemed to him that he had been kneeling for a lifetime, there on the altar steps beside the dying girl, with the glittering red-and-gold drapery trailing to the white marble, and opening to a white breast stained red,--a brighter red!
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading For as he waited for her inevitable death, his mind had followed that long life of his own, year after year, day after day, hour after hour.
