used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE TOKEN Slowly Anne drew aside the curtain and looked forth into the night, a magic night, soft and wonderful, infinitely peaceful.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There was the scent of coming rain in the air, but no clouds were visible.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The stars were dim and remote, almost quenched in that flood of moonlight.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A full moon shone high in the sky with an immense arc of light around it, many-rayed, faintly prismatic.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE TOKEN Slowly Anne drew aside the curtain and looked forth into the night, a magic night, soft and wonderful, infinitely peaceful.
Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)
From this reading THE TOKEN Slowly Anne drew aside the curtain and looked forth into the night, a magic night, soft and wonderful, infinitely peaceful.
arcnounUS /ɑːrk/
electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field
From this reading A full moon shone high in the sky with an immense arc of light around it, many-rayed, faintly prismatic.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading A full moon shone high in the sky with an immense arc of light around it, many-rayed, faintly prismatic.
on or to one side
From this reading THE TOKEN Slowly Anne drew aside the curtain and looked forth into the night, a magic night, soft and wonderful, infinitely peaceful.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was the scent of coming rain in the air, but no clouds were visible.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading There was the scent of coming rain in the air, but no clouds were visible.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading There was the scent of coming rain in the air, but no clouds were visible.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading THE TOKEN Slowly Anne drew aside the curtain and looked forth into the night, a magic night, soft and wonderful, infinitely peaceful.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading The stars were dim and remote, almost quenched in that flood of moonlight.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading THE TOKEN Slowly Anne drew aside the curtain and looked forth into the night, a magic night, soft and wonderful, infinitely peaceful.
faintlyadverbUS /ˈfeɪntli/
to a faint degree or weakly perceived
From this reading A full moon shone high in the sky with an immense arc of light around it, many-rayed, faintly prismatic.
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
fillingnounUS /ˈfɪlɪŋ/
any material that fills a space or container
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
floodnounUS /flʌd/
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading The stars were dim and remote, almost quenched in that flood of moonlight.
flutenounUS /fluːt/
a high-pitched woodwind instrument; a slender tube closed at one end with finger holes on one end and an opening near the closed end across which the breath is blown
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading THE TOKEN Slowly Anne drew aside the curtain and looked forth into the night, a magic night, soft and wonderful, infinitely peaceful.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading A full moon shone high in the sky with an immense arc of light around it, many-rayed, faintly prismatic.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading A full moon shone high in the sky with an immense arc of light around it, many-rayed, faintly prismatic.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading A full moon shone high in the sky with an immense arc of light around it, many-rayed, faintly prismatic.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A full moon shone high in the sky with an immense arc of light around it, many-rayed, faintly prismatic.
infinitelyadverbUS /ˈɪnfənətli/
without bounds
From this reading THE TOKEN Slowly Anne drew aside the curtain and looked forth into the night, a magic night, soft and wonderful, infinitely peaceful.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE TOKEN Slowly Anne drew aside the curtain and looked forth into the night, a magic night, soft and wonderful, infinitely peaceful.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A full moon shone high in the sky with an immense arc of light around it, many-rayed, faintly prismatic.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A full moon shone high in the sky with an immense arc of light around it, many-rayed, faintly prismatic.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading THE TOKEN Slowly Anne drew aside the curtain and looked forth into the night, a magic night, soft and wonderful, infinitely peaceful.
any art that invokes supernatural powers
From this reading THE TOKEN Slowly Anne drew aside the curtain and looked forth into the night, a magic night, soft and wonderful, infinitely peaceful.
many-rayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A full moon shone high in the sky with an immense arc of light around it, many-rayed, faintly prismatic.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading A full moon shone high in the sky with an immense arc of light around it, many-rayed, faintly prismatic.
the light of the Moon
From this reading The stars were dim and remote, almost quenched in that flood of moonlight.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE TOKEN Slowly Anne drew aside the curtain and looked forth into the night, a magic night, soft and wonderful, infinitely peaceful.
nightingalenounUS /ˈnaɪtɪŋɡeɪl/
European songbird noted for its melodious nocturnal song
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
not any; not one
From this reading There was the scent of coming rain in the air, but no clouds were visible.
plural of “note” — a brief written record
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A full moon shone high in the sky with an immense arc of light around it, many-rayed, faintly prismatic.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
peacefuladjectiveUS /ˈpiːsfəl/
not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
From this reading THE TOKEN Slowly Anne drew aside the curtain and looked forth into the night, a magic night, soft and wonderful, infinitely peaceful.
prismaticadjectiveUS /prɪzˈmætɪk/
of or relating to or resembling or constituting a prism
From this reading A full moon shone high in the sky with an immense arc of light around it, many-rayed, faintly prismatic.
quenchedadjective
allayed
From this reading The stars were dim and remote, almost quenched in that flood of moonlight.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading There was the scent of coming rain in the air, but no clouds were visible.
remoteadjectiveUS /rɪˈmoʊt/
located far away spatially
From this reading The stars were dim and remote, almost quenched in that flood of moonlight.
scentnounUS /sɛnt/
A distinctive smell or aroma.
From this reading There was the scent of coming rain in the air, but no clouds were visible.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading A full moon shone high in the sky with an immense arc of light around it, many-rayed, faintly prismatic.
shrubberies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading A full moon shone high in the sky with an immense arc of light around it, many-rayed, faintly prismatic.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading THE TOKEN Slowly Anne drew aside the curtain and looked forth into the night, a magic night, soft and wonderful, infinitely peaceful.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading THE TOKEN Slowly Anne drew aside the curtain and looked forth into the night, a magic night, soft and wonderful, infinitely peaceful.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading The stars were dim and remote, almost quenched in that flood of moonlight.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The stars were dim and remote, almost quenched in that flood of moonlight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TOKEN Slowly Anne drew aside the curtain and looked forth into the night, a magic night, soft and wonderful, infinitely peaceful.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was the scent of coming rain in the air, but no clouds were visible.
TOKENnounUS /ˈtoʊkən/
an individual instance of a type of symbol
From this reading THE TOKEN Slowly Anne drew aside the curtain and looked forth into the night, a magic night, soft and wonderful, infinitely peaceful.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading There was the scent of coming rain in the air, but no clouds were visible.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was the scent of coming rain in the air, but no clouds were visible.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was the scent of coming rain in the air, but no clouds were visible.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A full moon shone high in the sky with an immense arc of light around it, many-rayed, faintly prismatic.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading THE TOKEN Slowly Anne drew aside the curtain and looked forth into the night, a magic night, soft and wonderful, infinitely peaceful.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Across the quiet garden came the song of a nightingale in one of the shrubberies, now soft and far like the notes of a fairy flute, now close at hand and filling the whole world with music.
