used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Rapidly Howard threw back the cover of the manhole, and let the blessed air of heaven in.
using the voice; not silently
From this reading At sight of it the women sobbed aloud.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Instantly Mr. Willoughby’s head appeared.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At sight of it the women sobbed aloud.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Rapidly Howard threw back the cover of the manhole, and let the blessed air of heaven in.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading What the men did in the darkness can only be guessed.
beamnounUS /biːm/
a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
highly favored or fortunate (as e.g. by divine grace)
From this reading Rapidly Howard threw back the cover of the manhole, and let the blessed air of heaven in.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading What the men did in the darkness can only be guessed.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading Rapidly Howard threw back the cover of the manhole, and let the blessed air of heaven in.
past form of “dance” — move in a graceful and rhythmical way
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading What the men did in the darkness can only be guessed.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading What the men did in the darkness can only be guessed.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
gailyadverbUS /ˈɡeɪli/
in a gay manner
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading What the men did in the darkness can only be guessed.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Instantly Mr. Willoughby’s head appeared.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading Rapidly Howard threw back the cover of the manhole, and let the blessed air of heaven in.
HowardnounUS /ˈhaʊərd/
English actor of stage and screen (1893-1943)
From this reading Rapidly Howard threw back the cover of the manhole, and let the blessed air of heaven in.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading What the men did in the darkness can only be guessed.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Instantly Mr. Willoughby’s head appeared.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At sight of it the women sobbed aloud.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Rapidly Howard threw back the cover of the manhole, and let the blessed air of heaven in.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
manholenounUS /ˈmænhoʊl/
a hole (usually with a flush cover) through which a person can gain access to an underground structure
From this reading Rapidly Howard threw back the cover of the manhole, and let the blessed air of heaven in.
the force of workers available
From this reading What the men did in the darkness can only be guessed.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Instantly Mr. Willoughby’s head appeared.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At sight of it the women sobbed aloud.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
and nothing more
From this reading What the men did in the darkness can only be guessed.
with speed
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
rockedverbUS /rɑːkt/
past form of “rock” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
Seashark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading At sight of it the women sobbed aloud.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
sobbedverbUS /sɑːbd/
inflected form of “sob” — weep convulsively
From this reading At sight of it the women sobbed aloud.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Rapidly Howard threw back the cover of the manhole, and let the blessed air of heaven in.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
very small
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
westering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What the men did in the darkness can only be guessed.
Willoughby's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instantly Mr. Willoughby’s head appeared.
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 Rapidly the light grew, until a tiny beam from the westering sun shot straight through a window, and danced gaily about as the Seashark rocked to and fro on the smooth surface.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading At sight of it the women sobbed aloud.
