used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading December had come in, but the weather was still balmy: people said to one another that they were going to have no winter.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the window of her bedroom in the Grey Nunnery, steadily gazing out to sea, stood Mary Ursula Castlemaine.
balmyadjectiveUS /ˈbɑːmi/
informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
From this reading December had come in, but the weather was still balmy: people said to one another that they were going to have no winter.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading At the window of her bedroom in the Grey Nunnery, steadily gazing out to sea, stood Mary Ursula Castlemaine.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
borrowedverbUS /ˈbɑːroʊd/
past form of “borrow” — get temporarily
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading December had come in, but the weather was still balmy: people said to one another that they were going to have no winter.
CARGOnounUS /ˈkɑːrɡoʊ/
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading THE LAST CARGO.
Castlemaine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the window of her bedroom in the Grey Nunnery, steadily gazing out to sea, stood Mary Ursula Castlemaine.
changeableadjectiveUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒəbəl/
capable of or tending to change in form or quality or nature
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
climatenounUS /ˈklaɪmət/
the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading December had come in, but the weather was still balmy: people said to one another that they were going to have no winter.
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading December had come in, but the weather was still balmy: people said to one another that they were going to have no winter.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
exceptionaladjectiveUS /ɪkˈsepʃənəl/
far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading At the window of her bedroom in the Grey Nunnery, steadily gazing out to sea, stood Mary Ursula Castlemaine.
genialadjectiveUS /ˈdʒiːnjəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
the act of departing
From this reading December had come in, but the weather was still balmy: people said to one another that they were going to have no winter.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading At the window of her bedroom in the Grey Nunnery, steadily gazing out to sea, stood Mary Ursula Castlemaine.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading December had come in, but the weather was still balmy: people said to one another that they were going to have no winter.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading December had come in, but the weather was still balmy: people said to one another that they were going to have no winter.
hazenounUS /heɪz/
atmospheric moisture or dust or smoke that causes reduced visibility
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading At the window of her bedroom in the Grey Nunnery, steadily gazing out to sea, stood Mary Ursula Castlemaine.
illumineverb
make lighter or brighter
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At the window of her bedroom in the Grey Nunnery, steadily gazing out to sea, stood Mary Ursula Castlemaine.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
immediately past
From this reading THE LAST CARGO.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
engage in
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading At the window of her bedroom in the Grey Nunnery, steadily gazing out to sea, stood Mary Ursula Castlemaine.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
not any; not one
From this reading December had come in, but the weather was still balmy: people said to one another that they were going to have no winter.
NunnerynounUS /ˈnʌnəri/
the convent of a community of nuns
From this reading At the window of her bedroom in the Grey Nunnery, steadily gazing out to sea, stood Mary Ursula Castlemaine.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the window of her bedroom in the Grey Nunnery, steadily gazing out to sea, stood Mary Ursula Castlemaine.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading December had come in, but the weather was still balmy: people said to one another that they were going to have no winter.
and nothing more
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading At the window of her bedroom in the Grey Nunnery, steadily gazing out to sea, stood Mary Ursula Castlemaine.
partiallyadverbUS /ˈpɑːrʃəli/
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading December had come in, but the weather was still balmy: people said to one another that they were going to have no winter.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading December had come in, but the weather was still balmy: people said to one another that they were going to have no winter.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading At the window of her bedroom in the Grey Nunnery, steadily gazing out to sea, stood Mary Ursula Castlemaine.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
skiesnounUS /skaɪz/
plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
smilesnounUS /smaɪlz/
plural of “smile” — a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
the season of growth
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading At the window of her bedroom in the Grey Nunnery, steadily gazing out to sea, stood Mary Ursula Castlemaine.
not in physical motion
From this reading December had come in, but the weather was still balmy: people said to one another that they were going to have no winter.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading At the window of her bedroom in the Grey Nunnery, steadily gazing out to sea, stood Mary Ursula Castlemaine.
the rays of the sun
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading December had come in, but the weather was still balmy: people said to one another that they were going to have no winter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LAST CARGO.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading December had come in, but the weather was still balmy: people said to one another that they were going to have no winter.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At the window of her bedroom in the Grey Nunnery, steadily gazing out to sea, stood Mary Ursula Castlemaine.
Ursula
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the window of her bedroom in the Grey Nunnery, steadily gazing out to sea, stood Mary Ursula Castlemaine.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading December had come in, but the weather was still balmy: people said to one another that they were going to have no winter.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The night was almost as light as though the moon were shining: for a sort of light haze, partially covering the skies, seemed to illumine the earth and make things visible.
at the time that
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading At the window of her bedroom in the Grey Nunnery, steadily gazing out to sea, stood Mary Ursula Castlemaine.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading December had come in, but the weather was still balmy: people said to one another that they were going to have no winter.
a late time of life
From this reading It had been one of those exceptional years when England seems to have borrowed some more genial climate: since the changeable spring there had been only smiles and sunshine.
