used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After that last great stroke Death seemed to be resting on his laurels.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
archedadjectiveUS /ɑːrtʃt/
constructed with or in the form of an arch or arches
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading After that last great stroke Death seemed to be resting on his laurels.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
borderedadjectiveUS /ˈbɔːrdərd/
having a border especially of a specified kind; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
causewayverbUS /ˈkɑːzweɪ/
provide with a causeway
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading After that last great stroke Death seemed to be resting on his laurels.
desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
in a serious manner
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
one or the other of two
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading For a few moments the Road was left quite empty.
the organ of sight
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
gatewaynounUS /ˈɡeɪtweɪ/
an entrance that can be closed by a gate
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
brought together in one place
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
gleamingnounUS /ˈɡliːmɪŋ/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading After that last great stroke Death seemed to be resting on his laurels.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading After that last great stroke Death seemed to be resting on his laurels.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
illuminatedadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈluːməneɪtəd/
provided with artificial light
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
immediately past
From this reading After that last great stroke Death seemed to be resting on his laurels.
laurelsnounUS /ˈlɔːrəlz/
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading After that last great stroke Death seemed to be resting on his laurels.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading For a few moments the Road was left quite empty.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading For a few moments the Road was left quite empty.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading After that last great stroke Death seemed to be resting on his laurels.
on one occasion
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
phosphorescencenounUS /ˌfɑːsfərˈesəns/
a fluorescence that persists after the bombarding radiation has ceased
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
in the near future
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading For a few moments the Road was left quite empty.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position
From this reading After that last great stroke Death seemed to be resting on his laurels.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading For a few moments the Road was left quite empty.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading After that last great stroke Death seemed to be resting on his laurels.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
stragglersnounUS /ˈstræɡlərz/
plural of “straggler” — someone who strays or falls behind
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading After that last great stroke Death seemed to be resting on his laurels.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
summonsnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
a request to be present
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After that last great stroke Death seemed to be resting on his laurels.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
a special situation
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After that last great stroke Death seemed to be resting on his laurels.
towersnounUS /ˈtaʊərz/
plural of “tower” — a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
two times
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
unfamiliaradjectiveUS /ˌʌnfəˈmɪljər/
not known or well known
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
unpeopledadjective
with no people living there
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
precisely as stated
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For a few moments the Road was left quite empty.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
at the time that
From this reading When, followed by a few stragglers, these had passed and gathered themselves in the red shadow beneath the gateway towers waiting for the summons, an unusual thing occurred.
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When thus unpeopled it looked a very vast place like to a huge arched causeway, bordered on either side by blackness, but itself gleaming with a curious phosphorescence such as once or twice I have seen in the waters of a summer sea at night.
showing curiosity
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
but in spite of that
From this reading Presently in the very centre of this illuminated desolation, whilst it was as yet far away, something caught my eye, something so strange to the place, so utterly unfamiliar that I watched it earnestly, wondering what it might be.
