used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IN THE STREET-OF-PRAYER-TO-THE-GODS Haru unlatched a gate across which twisted a plum-branch with tarnished, silver bark.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading IN THE STREET-OF-PRAYER-TO-THE-GODS Haru unlatched a gate across which twisted a plum-branch with tarnished, silver bark.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Across the path, high in air, were stretched giant webs in whose centers hung black spiders as big as Japanese sparrows.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Across the path, high in air, were stretched giant webs in whose centers hung black spiders as big as Japanese sparrows.
barknounUS /bɑːrk/
tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants
From this reading IN THE STREET-OF-PRAYER-TO-THE-GODS Haru unlatched a gate across which twisted a plum-branch with tarnished, silver bark.
barsnounUS /bɑːrz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of two parallel wooden rods supported on uprights
From this reading The thin, white rice-paper pasted behind the bars of its sliding grill shone goldenly with the candle-light within.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The thin, white rice-paper pasted behind the bars of its sliding grill shone goldenly with the candle-light within.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Beyond was a low doorway, shaded by a gnarled _kiri_ tree.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Across the path, high in air, were stretched giant webs in whose centers hung black spiders as big as Japanese sparrows.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Across the path, high in air, were stretched giant webs in whose centers hung black spiders as big as Japanese sparrows.
bouldernounUS /ˈboʊldər/
a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Beyond was a low doorway, shaded by a gnarled _kiri_ tree.
candle-light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thin, white rice-paper pasted behind the bars of its sliding grill shone goldenly with the candle-light within.
centersnounUS /ˈsentərz/
plural of “center” — an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading Across the path, high in air, were stretched giant webs in whose centers hung black spiders as big as Japanese sparrows.
clumpnounUS /klʌmp/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading Beyond was a low doorway, shaded by a gnarled _kiri_ tree.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading IN THE STREET-OF-PRAYER-TO-THE-GODS Haru unlatched a gate across which twisted a plum-branch with tarnished, silver bark.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading Across the path, high in air, were stretched giant webs in whose centers hung black spiders as big as Japanese sparrows.
gnarledadjectiveUS /nɑːrld/
used of old persons or old trees; covered with knobs or knots
From this reading Beyond was a low doorway, shaded by a gnarled _kiri_ tree.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
goldenly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thin, white rice-paper pasted behind the bars of its sliding grill shone goldenly with the candle-light within.
grillnounUS /ɡrɪl/
a restaurant where food is cooked on a grill
From this reading The thin, white rice-paper pasted behind the bars of its sliding grill shone goldenly with the candle-light within.
Haru
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE STREET-OF-PRAYER-TO-THE-GODS Haru unlatched a gate across which twisted a plum-branch with tarnished, silver bark.
inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Across the path, high in air, were stretched giant webs in whose centers hung black spiders as big as Japanese sparrows.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Across the path, high in air, were stretched giant webs in whose centers hung black spiders as big as Japanese sparrows.
icho
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE STREET-OF-PRAYER-TO-THE-GODS Haru unlatched a gate across which twisted a plum-branch with tarnished, silver bark.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The thin, white rice-paper pasted behind the bars of its sliding grill shone goldenly with the candle-light within.
JapanesenounUS /ˌdʒæpəˈniːz/
a native or inhabitant of Japan
From this reading Across the path, high in air, were stretched giant webs in whose centers hung black spiders as big as Japanese sparrows.
kiri
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beyond was a low doorway, shaded by a gnarled _kiri_ tree.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Beyond was a low doorway, shaded by a gnarled _kiri_ tree.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
mossnounUS /mɔːs/
tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
pastedadjectiveUS /ˈpeɪstɪd/
affixed or as if affixed with glue or paste
From this reading The thin, white rice-paper pasted behind the bars of its sliding grill shone goldenly with the candle-light within.
a course of conduct
From this reading Across the path, high in air, were stretched giant webs in whose centers hung black spiders as big as Japanese sparrows.
plum-branch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE STREET-OF-PRAYER-TO-THE-GODS Haru unlatched a gate across which twisted a plum-branch with tarnished, silver bark.
rice-paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thin, white rice-paper pasted behind the bars of its sliding grill shone goldenly with the candle-light within.
roundedadjectiveUS /ˈraʊndəd/
curving and somewhat round in shape rather than jagged
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
only a very short time before
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
shadedadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪdɪd/
protected from heat and light with shade or shadow
From this reading Beyond was a low doorway, shaded by a gnarled _kiri_ tree.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading The thin, white rice-paper pasted behind the bars of its sliding grill shone goldenly with the candle-light within.
shrubsnounUS /ʃrʌbz/
plural of “shrub” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading IN THE STREET-OF-PRAYER-TO-THE-GODS Haru unlatched a gate across which twisted a plum-branch with tarnished, silver bark.
slidingadjectiveUS /ˈslaɪdɪŋ/
being a smooth continuous motion
From this reading The thin, white rice-paper pasted behind the bars of its sliding grill shone goldenly with the candle-light within.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
sparrowsnounUS /ˈsperoʊz/
plural of “sparrow” — any of several small dull-colored singing birds feeding on seeds or insects
From this reading Across the path, high in air, were stretched giant webs in whose centers hung black spiders as big as Japanese sparrows.
spidersnounUS /ˈspaɪdərz/
plural of “spider” — predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey
From this reading Across the path, high in air, were stretched giant webs in whose centers hung black spiders as big as Japanese sparrows.
STREET-OF-PRAYER-TO-THE-GODS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE STREET-OF-PRAYER-TO-THE-GODS Haru unlatched a gate across which twisted a plum-branch with tarnished, silver bark.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Across the path, high in air, were stretched giant webs in whose centers hung black spiders as big as Japanese sparrows.
tarnishedverbUS /ˈtɑːrnɪʃt/
past form of “tarnish” — make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically
From this reading IN THE STREET-OF-PRAYER-TO-THE-GODS Haru unlatched a gate across which twisted a plum-branch with tarnished, silver bark.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE STREET-OF-PRAYER-TO-THE-GODS Haru unlatched a gate across which twisted a plum-branch with tarnished, silver bark.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The thin, white rice-paper pasted behind the bars of its sliding grill shone goldenly with the candle-light within.
very small
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Beyond was a low doorway, shaded by a gnarled _kiri_ tree.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading IN THE STREET-OF-PRAYER-TO-THE-GODS Haru unlatched a gate across which twisted a plum-branch with tarnished, silver bark.
unlatchedadjective
not firmly fastened or secured
From this reading IN THE STREET-OF-PRAYER-TO-THE-GODS Haru unlatched a gate across which twisted a plum-branch with tarnished, silver bark.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It hid a garden so tiny that it was scarcely more than a rounded boulder set in moss, with a clump of golden _icho_ shrubs.
websnounUS /webz/
plural of “web” — an intricate network suggesting something that was formed by weaving or interweaving
From this reading Across the path, high in air, were stretched giant webs in whose centers hung black spiders as big as Japanese sparrows.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Across the path, high in air, were stretched giant webs in whose centers hung black spiders as big as Japanese sparrows.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading IN THE STREET-OF-PRAYER-TO-THE-GODS Haru unlatched a gate across which twisted a plum-branch with tarnished, silver bark.
a Caucasian
From this reading The thin, white rice-paper pasted behind the bars of its sliding grill shone goldenly with the candle-light within.
belonging to which person
From this reading Across the path, high in air, were stretched giant webs in whose centers hung black spiders as big as Japanese sparrows.
in the company of; together with
From this reading IN THE STREET-OF-PRAYER-TO-THE-GODS Haru unlatched a gate across which twisted a plum-branch with tarnished, silver bark.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The thin, white rice-paper pasted behind the bars of its sliding grill shone goldenly with the candle-light within.
