used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Over the first rise of the hills was a long dreary waste--treeless, awesome, desolate.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
antlersnounUS /ˈæntlərz/
plural of “antler” — deciduous horn of a member of the deer family
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Once we startled a herd of red-deer feeding round the mossy lips of a frozen pool, and away they galloped.
awesomeadjectiveUS /ˈɑːsəm/
inspiring awe or admiration or wonder
From this reading Over the first rise of the hills was a long dreary waste--treeless, awesome, desolate.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
cannyadjectiveUS /ˈkæni/
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
curlewnoun
large migratory shorebirds of the sandpiper family; closely related to woodcocks but having a down-curved bill
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading Over the first rise of the hills was a long dreary waste--treeless, awesome, desolate.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading Over the first rise of the hills was a long dreary waste--treeless, awesome, desolate.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
eerieadjectiveUS /ˈɪri/
suggestive of the supernatural; mysterious
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
emptinessnounUS /ˈemptinəs/
the state of containing nothing
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
feedingnounUS /ˈfiːdɪŋ/
the act of consuming food
From this reading Once we startled a herd of red-deer feeding round the mossy lips of a frozen pool, and away they galloped.
fillingnounUS /ˈfɪlɪŋ/
any material that fills a space or container
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Over the first rise of the hills was a long dreary waste--treeless, awesome, desolate.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/
turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold
From this reading Once we startled a herd of red-deer feeding round the mossy lips of a frozen pool, and away they galloped.
gallopedverbUS /ˈɡæləpt/
past form of “gallop” — ride at a galloping pace
From this reading Once we startled a herd of red-deer feeding round the mossy lips of a frozen pool, and away they galloped.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
herdnounUS /hɜːrd/
a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans
From this reading Once we startled a herd of red-deer feeding round the mossy lips of a frozen pool, and away they galloped.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Over the first rise of the hills was a long dreary waste--treeless, awesome, desolate.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
the act of departing
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Once we startled a herd of red-deer feeding round the mossy lips of a frozen pool, and away they galloped.
LOCKERnounUS /ˈlɑːkər/
a storage compartment for clothes and valuables; usually it has a lock
From this reading McALLAN'S LOCKER.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Over the first rise of the hills was a long dreary waste--treeless, awesome, desolate.
lordlyadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːrdliː/
of or befitting a lord
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
McALLAN'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading McALLAN'S LOCKER.
mossyadjectiveUS /ˈmɔːsi/
overgrown with moss
From this reading Once we startled a herd of red-deer feeding round the mossy lips of a frozen pool, and away they galloped.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Over the first rise of the hills was a long dreary waste--treeless, awesome, desolate.
on one occasion
From this reading Once we startled a herd of red-deer feeding round the mossy lips of a frozen pool, and away they galloped.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over the first rise of the hills was a long dreary waste--treeless, awesome, desolate.
poolnounUS /puːl/
an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading Once we startled a herd of red-deer feeding round the mossy lips of a frozen pool, and away they galloped.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
red-deer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once we startled a herd of red-deer feeding round the mossy lips of a frozen pool, and away they galloped.
move upward
From this reading Over the first rise of the hills was a long dreary waste--treeless, awesome, desolate.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Once we startled a herd of red-deer feeding round the mossy lips of a frozen pool, and away they galloped.
past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
stagverbUS /stæɡ/
attend a dance or a party without a female companion
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Once we startled a herd of red-deer feeding round the mossy lips of a frozen pool, and away they galloped.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Over the first rise of the hills was a long dreary waste--treeless, awesome, desolate.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once we startled a herd of red-deer feeding round the mossy lips of a frozen pool, and away they galloped.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
treelessadjectiveUS /ˈtriːləs/
not wooded
From this reading Over the first rise of the hills was a long dreary waste--treeless, awesome, desolate.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
having passed out of existence
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Over the first rise of the hills was a long dreary waste--treeless, awesome, desolate.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading Over the first rise of the hills was a long dreary waste--treeless, awesome, desolate.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
wheeledadjectiveUS /wiːld/
having wheels; often used in combination
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
WhilesnounUS /waɪlz/
plural of “while” — a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
whined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
whirlingnounUS /ˈwɜːrlɪŋ/
the act of rotating in a circle or spiral
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
in the company of; together with
From this reading One lordly stag wheeled with antlers high, gazed at our flight, and vanished, leaving us in that dreadful stillness, and a cold eerie wind whined and sighed over us.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Whiles, as we ran, a curlew would rise, and its long whirling cry rose in the night, filling the ears and leaving an emptiness afterwards in the silence, for things not canny to be filling.
