adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
admissionnounUS /ædˈmɪʃən/
the act of admitting someone to enter
From this reading The French sentinel on duty beneath the principal archway eyed our party curiously, but offered no obstacle to their admission.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
archesnounUS /ˈɑːrtʃəz/
plural of “arch” — a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
archwaynounUS /ˈɑːrtʃweɪ/
a passageway under a curved masonry construction
From this reading The French sentinel on duty beneath the principal archway eyed our party curiously, but offered no obstacle to their admission.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
assistedadjectiveUS /əˈsɪstɪd/
having help; often used as a combining form
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The French sentinel on duty beneath the principal archway eyed our party curiously, but offered no obstacle to their admission.
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Byron’s celebrated description is better than the reality.
buildverbUS /bɪld/
make by combining materials and parts
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
Byron'snounUS /ˈbaɪrənz/
possessive form of “byron” — English romantic poet notorious for his rebellious and unconventional lifestyle (1788-1824)
From this reading Byron’s celebrated description is better than the reality.
carriagesnounUS /ˈkærɪdʒɪz/
plural of “carriage” — a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
celebratedadjectiveUS /ˈseləbreɪtɪd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading Byron’s celebrated description is better than the reality.
ColiseumnounUS /ˌkɑːləˈsiːəm/
an oval large stadium with tiers of seats; an arena in which contests and spectacles are held
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
curiouslyadverbUS /ˈkjʊriəsli/
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading The French sentinel on duty beneath the principal archway eyed our party curiously, but offered no obstacle to their admission.
decaynounUS /dɪˈkeɪ/
the process of gradually becoming inferior
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
descriptionnounUS /dɪˈskrɪpʃən/
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading Byron’s celebrated description is better than the reality.
dimnessnoun
the state of being poorly illuminated
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
distinctlyadverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋktli/
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading The French sentinel on duty beneath the principal archway eyed our party curiously, but offered no obstacle to their admission.
effectnounUS /ɪˈfekt/
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
emptyverbUS /ˈempti/
make void or empty of contents
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
entrancenounUS /ˈentrəns/
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
eyedadjectiveUS /aɪd/
having an eye or eyes or eyelike feature especially as specified; often used in combination
From this reading The French sentinel on duty beneath the principal archway eyed our party curiously, but offered no obstacle to their admission.
famousadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪməs/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
filledadjectiveUS /fɪld/
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
floodedadjectiveUS /ˈflʌdəd/
covered with water
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
FrenchnounUS /frentʃ/
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading The French sentinel on duty beneath the principal archway eyed our party curiously, but offered no obstacle to their admission.
glowedverbUS /ɡloʊd/
past form of “glow” — emit a steady even light without flames
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
granderadjectiveUS /ˈɡrændər/
comparative of “grand” — of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
grass-grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
imaginationnounUS /ˌɪmædʒəˈneɪʃən/
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
inestimableadjective
beyond calculation or measure
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
interioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Byron’s celebrated description is better than the reality.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
MIRIAM'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
moonlightnounUS /ˈmuːnlaɪt/
the light of the Moon
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
mysterynounUS /ˈmɪstəri/
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The French sentinel on duty beneath the principal archway eyed our party curiously, but offered no obstacle to their admission.
obstaclenounUS /ˈɑːbstəkəl/
something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted
From this reading The French sentinel on duty beneath the principal archway eyed our party curiously, but offered no obstacle to their admission.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
offeredverbUS /ˈɔːfərd/
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading The French sentinel on duty beneath the principal archway eyed our party curiously, but offered no obstacle to their admission.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The French sentinel on duty beneath the principal archway eyed our party curiously, but offered no obstacle to their admission.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The French sentinel on duty beneath the principal archway eyed our party curiously, but offered no obstacle to their admission.
partynounUS /ˈpɑːrti/
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The French sentinel on duty beneath the principal archway eyed our party curiously, but offered no obstacle to their admission.
picturesqueadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/
suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
precinctsnounUS /ˈpriːsɪŋkts/
plural of “precinct” — a district of a city or town marked out for administrative purposes
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
principalnounUS /ˈprɪnsəpəl/
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading The French sentinel on duty beneath the principal archway eyed our party curiously, but offered no obstacle to their admission.
realitynounUS /ˌriːˈælətiː/
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading Byron’s celebrated description is better than the reality.
revelationnounUS /ˌrevəˈleɪʃən/
the speech act of making something evident
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
ruinnounUS /ˈruːən/
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
ruinedadjectiveUS /ˈruːənd/
destroyed physically or morally
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
sentinelnounUS /ˈsentənəl/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading The French sentinel on duty beneath the principal archway eyed our party curiously, but offered no obstacle to their admission.
severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
shatterverbUS /ˈʃætər/
break into many pieces
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
solitudenounUS /ˈsɑːlətuːd/
a state of social isolation
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
spacenounUS /speɪs/
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
splendornounUS /ˈsplen.dər/
Magnificent and splendid appearance; grandeur and brilliance.
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
structurenounUS /ˈstrʌktʃər/
a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The French sentinel on duty beneath the principal archway eyed our party curiously, but offered no obstacle to their admission.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
tiernounUS /tiːr/
a relative position or degree of value in a graded group
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The French sentinel on duty beneath the principal archway eyed our party curiously, but offered no obstacle to their admission.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
TROUBLEnounUS /ˈtrʌbəl/
a source of difficulty
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
visibleadjectiveUS /ˈvɪzəbəl/
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading MIRIAM’S TROUBLE As usual of a moonlight evening, several carriages stood at the entrance of this famous ruin, and the precincts and interior were anything but a solitude.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The splendor of the revelation took away that inestimable effect of dimness and mystery by which the imagination might be assisted to build a grander structure than the Coliseum, and to shatter it with a more picturesque decay.
WithinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Within, the moonlight filled and flooded the great empty space; it glowed upon tier above tier of ruined, grass-grown arches, and made them even too distinctly visible.
