used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
third-person singular of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
ashyadjectiveUS /ˈæʃi/
of a light grey
From this reading White walls that had been like ivory were turning into ashy gray behind the _Bateria San Carlos_ and the pillars of the _Entrada_.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
Bateria
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White walls that had been like ivory were turning into ashy gray behind the _Bateria San Carlos_ and the pillars of the _Entrada_.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading White walls that had been like ivory were turning into ashy gray behind the _Bateria San Carlos_ and the pillars of the _Entrada_.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading White walls that had been like ivory were turning into ashy gray behind the _Bateria San Carlos_ and the pillars of the _Entrada_.
BentonnounUS /ˈbentən/
United States artist whose paintings portrayed life in the Midwest and South (1889-1975)
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The molten sun was sinking into a rich orange sky beyond the Moorish dome and Christian towers of the cathedral.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
CadiznounUS /kəˈdiːz/
an ancient port city in southwestern Spain
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
CarlosnounUS /ˈkɑːrloʊs/
Venezuelan master terrorist raised by a Marxist-Leninist father; trained and worked with many terrorist groups (born in 1949)
From this reading White walls that had been like ivory were turning into ashy gray behind the _Bateria San Carlos_ and the pillars of the _Entrada_.
cathedralnounUS /kəˈθiːdrəl/
any large and important church
From this reading The molten sun was sinking into a rich orange sky beyond the Moorish dome and Christian towers of the cathedral.
relating to or characteristic of Christianity
From this reading The molten sun was sinking into a rich orange sky beyond the Moorish dome and Christian towers of the cathedral.
darkeningadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənɪŋ/
becoming dark or darker as from waning light or clouding over
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading Then, leaning heavily on his elbow, he gazed off, frowning, over the rail of the yacht's forward deck.
domenounUS /doʊm/
a concave shape whose distinguishing characteristic is that the concavity faces downward
From this reading The molten sun was sinking into a rich orange sky beyond the Moorish dome and Christian towers of the cathedral.
elbownounUS /ˈelboʊ/
hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading Then, leaning heavily on his elbow, he gazed off, frowning, over the rail of the yacht's forward deck.
Entrada
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White walls that had been like ivory were turning into ashy gray behind the _Bateria San Carlos_ and the pillars of the _Entrada_.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
farm-yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Then, leaning heavily on his elbow, he gazed off, frowning, over the rail of the yacht's forward deck.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
frowningadjectiveUS /ˈfraʊnɪŋ/
showing displeasure or anger
From this reading Then, leaning heavily on his elbow, he gazed off, frowning, over the rail of the yacht's forward deck.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Then, leaning heavily on his elbow, he gazed off, frowning, over the rail of the yacht's forward deck.
motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading White walls that had been like ivory were turning into ashy gray behind the _Bateria San Carlos_ and the pillars of the _Entrada_.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading White walls that had been like ivory were turning into ashy gray behind the _Bateria San Carlos_ and the pillars of the _Entrada_.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then, leaning heavily on his elbow, he gazed off, frowning, over the rail of the yacht's forward deck.
to a considerable degree
From this reading Then, leaning heavily on his elbow, he gazed off, frowning, over the rail of the yacht's forward deck.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
inkinessnoun
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
ivorynounUS /ˈaɪvəri/
a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
From this reading White walls that had been like ivory were turning into ashy gray behind the _Bateria San Carlos_ and the pillars of the _Entrada_.
jadenounUS /dʒeɪd/
a semiprecious gemstone that takes a high polish; is usually green but sometimes whitish; consists of jadeite or nephrite
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading Then, leaning heavily on his elbow, he gazed off, frowning, over the rail of the yacht's forward deck.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading White walls that had been like ivory were turning into ashy gray behind the _Bateria San Carlos_ and the pillars of the _Entrada_.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
moltenadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊltən/
reduced to liquid form by heating
From this reading The molten sun was sinking into a rich orange sky beyond the Moorish dome and Christian towers of the cathedral.
MoorishnounUS /ˈmʊrɪʃ/
a style of architecture common in Spain from the 13th to 16th centuries; characterized by horseshoe-shaped arches
From this reading The molten sun was sinking into a rich orange sky beyond the Moorish dome and Christian towers of the cathedral.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then, leaning heavily on his elbow, he gazed off, frowning, over the rail of the yacht's forward deck.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Then, leaning heavily on his elbow, he gazed off, frowning, over the rail of the yacht's forward deck.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then, leaning heavily on his elbow, he gazed off, frowning, over the rail of the yacht's forward deck.
orangenounUS /ˈɔːrəndʒ/
round yellow to orange fruit of any of several citrus trees
From this reading The molten sun was sinking into a rich orange sky beyond the Moorish dome and Christian towers of the cathedral.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
pillarsnounUS /ˈpɪlərz/
plural of “pillar” — a fundamental principle or practice
From this reading White walls that had been like ivory were turning into ashy gray behind the _Bateria San Carlos_ and the pillars of the _Entrada_.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
poolsnounUS /puːlz/
plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
quaysnounUS /kiːz/
plural of “quay” — wharf usually built parallel to the shoreline
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading Then, leaning heavily on his elbow, he gazed off, frowning, over the rail of the yacht's forward deck.
possessing material wealth
From this reading The molten sun was sinking into a rich orange sky beyond the Moorish dome and Christian towers of the cathedral.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White walls that had been like ivory were turning into ashy gray behind the _Bateria San Carlos_ and the pillars of the _Entrada_.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading The molten sun was sinking into a rich orange sky beyond the Moorish dome and Christian towers of the cathedral.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The molten sun was sinking into a rich orange sky beyond the Moorish dome and Christian towers of the cathedral.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
not in physical motion
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
subconsciousadjectiveUS /səbˈkɑːnʃəs/
just below the level of consciousness
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The molten sun was sinking into a rich orange sky beyond the Moorish dome and Christian towers of the cathedral.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, leaning heavily on his elbow, he gazed off, frowning, over the rail of the yacht's forward deck.
TOREADORnoun
someone who fights bulls
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
towersnounUS /ˈtaʊərz/
plural of “tower” — a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading The molten sun was sinking into a rich orange sky beyond the Moorish dome and Christian towers of the cathedral.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading White walls that had been like ivory were turning into ashy gray behind the _Bateria San Carlos_ and the pillars of the _Entrada_.
unopenedadjectiveUS /əˈnoʊpənd/
not yet opened or unsealed
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading White walls that had been like ivory were turning into ashy gray behind the _Bateria San Carlos_ and the pillars of the _Entrada_.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The molten sun was sinking into a rich orange sky beyond the Moorish dome and Christian towers of the cathedral.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
wharves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The waters that lap the quays and wharves of Old Cadiz, green as jade and quiet as farm-yard pools, were darkening into inkiness toward shore.
a Caucasian
From this reading White walls that had been like ivory were turning into ashy gray behind the _Bateria San Carlos_ and the pillars of the _Entrada_.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE TOREADOR APPEARS Slowly, with a gesture almost subconscious, Benton slipped an unopened envelope from his breast pocket; turned it over; looked at it and slipped it back, still unopened.
yacht's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, leaning heavily on his elbow, he gazed off, frowning, over the rail of the yacht's forward deck.
