used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Save for the sound of the organ and the half-muffled singing there was such silence that the whirr past of a bird became a notable thing.
AbbeynounUS /ˈæbi/
a church associated with a monastery or convent
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
archesnounUS /ˈɑːrtʃəz/
plural of “arch” — a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
AVOWALnoun
a statement asserting the existence or the truth of something
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading Delia gazed down the shadowy cloisters into their dimness, barred with the gold of the sunshine.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Save for the sound of the organ and the half-muffled singing there was such silence that the whirr past of a bird became a notable thing.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Save for the sound of the organ and the half-muffled singing there was such silence that the whirr past of a bird became a notable thing.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
cloistersnounUS /ˈklɔɪstərz/
plural of “cloister” — residence that is a place of religious seclusion (such as a monastery)
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
counterpartnounUS /ˈkaʊntərpɑːrt/
a person or thing having the same function or characteristics as another
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
Delia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
dimnessnoun
the state of being poorly illuminated
From this reading Delia gazed down the shadowy cloisters into their dimness, barred with the gold of the sunshine.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Delia gazed down the shadowy cloisters into their dimness, barred with the gold of the sunshine.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
Featherstonehaugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
flagstonenounUS /ˈflæɡstoʊn/
stratified stone that splits into pieces suitable as paving stones
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Save for the sound of the organ and the half-muffled singing there was such silence that the whirr past of a bird became a notable thing.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Delia gazed down the shadowy cloisters into their dimness, barred with the gold of the sunshine.
glitteredverbUS /ˈɡlɪtərd/
past form of “glitter” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
coins made of gold
From this reading Delia gazed down the shadowy cloisters into their dimness, barred with the gold of the sunshine.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
half-muffled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Save for the sound of the organ and the half-muffled singing there was such silence that the whirr past of a bird became a notable thing.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Delia gazed down the shadowy cloisters into their dimness, barred with the gold of the sunshine.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
become part of; become a member of a group or organization
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
not any; not one
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
notableadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəbəl/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading Save for the sound of the organ and the half-muffled singing there was such silence that the whirr past of a bird became a notable thing.
notedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
organnounUS /ˈɔːrɡən/
a fully differentiated structural and functional unit in an animal that is specialized for some particular function
From this reading Save for the sound of the organ and the half-muffled singing there was such silence that the whirr past of a bird became a notable thing.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Save for the sound of the organ and the half-muffled singing there was such silence that the whirr past of a bird became a notable thing.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
ribbings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
except for; apart from
From this reading Save for the sound of the organ and the half-muffled singing there was such silence that the whirr past of a bird became a notable thing.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading Delia gazed down the shadowy cloisters into their dimness, barred with the gold of the sunshine.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Save for the sound of the organ and the half-muffled singing there was such silence that the whirr past of a bird became a notable thing.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
in or at or to some place
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Save for the sound of the organ and the half-muffled singing there was such silence that the whirr past of a bird became a notable thing.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Save for the sound of the organ and the half-muffled singing there was such silence that the whirr past of a bird became a notable thing.
the rays of the sun
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Save for the sound of the organ and the half-muffled singing there was such silence that the whirr past of a bird became a notable thing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Delia gazed down the shadowy cloisters into their dimness, barred with the gold of the sunshine.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Save for the sound of the organ and the half-muffled singing there was such silence that the whirr past of a bird became a notable thing.
a special situation
From this reading Save for the sound of the organ and the half-muffled singing there was such silence that the whirr past of a bird became a notable thing.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
TudornounUS /ˈtuːdər/
an English dynasty descended from Henry Tudor; Tudor monarchs ruled from Henry VII to Elizabeth I (from 1485 to 1603)
From this reading She noted the slender stone ribbings rising perfectly to join like hands in prayer, somewhere in the mystery of the dark roof, and the Tudor roses each with its golden counterpart on the gray flagstone, and she sighed, for no reason save the stillness of it all.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
untroddenadjective
lacking pathways
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
WestminsternounUS /ˌwestˈmɪnstər/
a borough of Greater London on the Thames; contains Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey
From this reading THE AVOWAL The afternoon service at Westminster Abbey had commenced; Delia Featherstonehaugh sat in the cloisters and listened to the lift of the singing.
whirrverb
make a soft swishing sound
From this reading Save for the sound of the organ and the half-muffled singing there was such silence that the whirr past of a bird became a notable thing.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading The place was yellow with the late sunshine; through the open arches glittered the untrodden snow under the faint blue of an English winter sky.
