adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
ambernounUS /ˈæmbər/
a deep yellow color
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
AprilnounUS /ˈeɪprəl/
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
aureateadjective
elaborately or excessively ornamented
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
azurenounUS /ˈæʒər/
a light shade of blue
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
beheldverbUS /biˈheld/
inflected form of “behold” — see with attention
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
clearverbUS /klɪr/
rid of obstructions
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
clusteredadjectiveUS /ˈklʌstərd/
growing close together but not in dense mats
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
clustersnounUS /ˈklʌstərz/
plural of “cluster” — a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/
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 Whence had come those cold fires that had flared from them, I wondered--more menacing, far more menacing, in their cold tranquillity than the hot flames of wrath?
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Whence had come those cold fires that had flared from them, I wondered--more menacing, far more menacing, in their cold tranquillity than the hot flames of wrath?
constellationsnounUS /ˌkɑːnstəˈleɪʃənz/
plural of “constellation” — an arrangement of parts or elements
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
crescented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
crystalnounUS /ˈkrɪstəl/
a solid formed by the solidification of a chemical and having a highly regular atomic structure
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
deepadjectiveUS /diːp/
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
depthsnounUS /depθs/
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
DiananounUS /daɪˈænə/
English aristocrat who was the first wife of Prince Charles; her death in an automobile accident in Paris produced intense national mourning (1961-1997)
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
faradverbUS /fɑːr/
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Whence had come those cold fires that had flared from them, I wondered--more menacing, far more menacing, in their cold tranquillity than the hot flames of wrath?
far-flungadjective
distributed over a considerable extent
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
firesnounUS /ˈfaɪərz/
plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)
From this reading Whence had come those cold fires that had flared from them, I wondered--more menacing, far more menacing, in their cold tranquillity than the hot flames of wrath?
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
flamesnounUS /fleɪmz/
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading Whence had come those cold fires that had flared from them, I wondered--more menacing, far more menacing, in their cold tranquillity than the hot flames of wrath?
flaredverbUS /flerd/
past form of “flare” — burn brightly
From this reading Whence had come those cold fires that had flared from them, I wondered--more menacing, far more menacing, in their cold tranquillity than the hot flames of wrath?
fleckedadjective
having a pattern of dots
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
flecksnounUS /fleks/
plural of “fleck” — a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Whence had come those cold fires that had flared from them, I wondered--more menacing, far more menacing, in their cold tranquillity than the hot flames of wrath?
goldenadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊldən/
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
graynounUS /ɡreɪ/
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Whence had come those cold fires that had flared from them, I wondered--more menacing, far more menacing, in their cold tranquillity than the hot flames of wrath?
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
heavensnounUS /ˈhevənz/
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
HelennounUS /ˈhelən/
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
hotadjectiveUS /hɑːt/
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading Whence had come those cold fires that had flared from them, I wondered--more menacing, far more menacing, in their cold tranquillity than the hot flames of wrath?
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
irisesnounUS /ˈaɪrəsɪz/
plural of “iris” — plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect stalks bearing bright-colored flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
lovelinessnoun
the quality of being good looking and attractive
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
maidnounUS /meɪd/
a female domestic
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
menacingadjectiveUS /ˈmenəsɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading Whence had come those cold fires that had flared from them, I wondered--more menacing, far more menacing, in their cold tranquillity than the hot flames of wrath?
midnightnounUS /ˈmɪdnaɪt/
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Whence had come those cold fires that had flared from them, I wondered--more menacing, far more menacing, in their cold tranquillity than the hot flames of wrath?
nonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
notenounUS /noʊt/
a brief written record
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
pupilsnounUS /ˈpjuːpəlz/
plural of “pupil” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
rain-washed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
sacredadjectiveUS /ˈseɪkrəd/
concerned with religion or religious purposes
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
sapphireadjectiveUS /ˈsæfaɪər/
of something having the color of a blue sapphire
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
shoneverbUS /ʃoʊn/
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
skiesnounUS /skaɪz/
plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
springnounUS /sprɪŋ/
the season of growth
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
starsnounUS /stɑːrz/
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Whence had come those cold fires that had flared from them, I wondered--more menacing, far more menacing, in their cold tranquillity than the hot flames of wrath?
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Whence had come those cold fires that had flared from them, I wondered--more menacing, far more menacing, in their cold tranquillity than the hot flames of wrath?
thrillnounUS /θrɪl/
the swift release of a store of affective force
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
tinyadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪni/
very small
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
tranquillitynounUS /træŋˈkwɪlɪti/
an untroubled state; free from disturbances
From this reading Whence had come those cold fires that had flared from them, I wondered--more menacing, far more menacing, in their cold tranquillity than the hot flames of wrath?
TrojannounUS /ˈtroʊdʒən/
a native of ancient Troy
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
velvetyadjectiveUS /ˈvelvəti/
smooth and soft to sight or hearing or touch or taste
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
visionnounUS /ˈvɪʒən/
a vivid mental image
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We looked upon a vision of loveliness such, I think, as none has beheld since Trojan Helen was a maid.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At first all I could note were the eyes, clear as rain-washed April skies, crystal clear as some secret spring sacred to crescented Diana.
WhenceadverbUS /wens/
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading Whence had come those cold fires that had flared from them, I wondered--more menacing, far more menacing, in their cold tranquillity than the hot flames of wrath?
wideadjectiveUS /waɪd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Their wide gray irises were flecked with golden amber and sapphire--flecks that shone like clusters of little aureate and azure stars.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
wondernounUS /ˈwʌndər/
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading Then with a strange thrill of wonder I saw that these tiny constellations were not in the irises alone; that they clustered even within the pupils--deep within them, like far-flung stars in the depths of velvety, midnight heavens.
wonderedverbUS /ˈwʌndərd/
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading Whence had come those cold fires that had flared from them, I wondered--more menacing, far more menacing, in their cold tranquillity than the hot flames of wrath?
wrathnounUS /ræθ/
intense anger (usually on an epic scale)
From this reading Whence had come those cold fires that had flared from them, I wondered--more menacing, far more menacing, in their cold tranquillity than the hot flames of wrath?
