used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The red of twilight had faded, and the silver moon, round and fair, was rising behind the thick boughs of the apple-trees.
apple-trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red of twilight had faded, and the silver moon, round and fair, was rising behind the thick boughs of the apple-trees.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The red of twilight had faded, and the silver moon, round and fair, was rising behind the thick boughs of the apple-trees.
beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/
plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
boughsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree
From this reading The red of twilight had faded, and the silver moon, round and fair, was rising behind the thick boughs of the apple-trees.
creakingnounUS /ˈkriːkɪŋ/
a squeaking sound
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
createdverbUS /kriˈeɪtəd/
past form of “create” — make or cause to be or to become
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
cricketsnounUS /ˈkrɪkəts/
plural of “cricket” — leaping insect; male makes chirping noises by rubbing the forewings together
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading The red of twilight had faded, and the silver moon, round and fair, was rising behind the thick boughs of the apple-trees.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading The red of twilight had faded, and the silver moon, round and fair, was rising behind the thick boughs of the apple-trees.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The red of twilight had faded, and the silver moon, round and fair, was rising behind the thick boughs of the apple-trees.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading MARY returned to the quietude of her room.
hoarseadjectiveUS /hɔːrs/
deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
inventedverbUS /ˌɪnˈventəd/
past form of “invent” — come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
jollitynoun
feeling jolly and jovial and full of good humor
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading THE LETTER.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading MARY returned to the quietude of her room.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The red of twilight had faded, and the silver moon, round and fair, was rising behind the thick boughs of the apple-trees.
mortalsnounUS /ˈmɔːrtəlz/
plural of “mortal” — a human being
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
mournfullyadverb
in a mournful manner
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MARY returned to the quietude of her room.
many times at short intervals
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
and nothing more
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
the one or ones belonging to us
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
quietudenoun
a state of peace and quiet
From this reading MARY returned to the quietude of her room.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The red of twilight had faded, and the silver moon, round and fair, was rising behind the thick boughs of the apple-trees.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading MARY returned to the quietude of her room.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading The red of twilight had faded, and the silver moon, round and fair, was rising behind the thick boughs of the apple-trees.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading MARY returned to the quietude of her room.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The red of twilight had faded, and the silver moon, round and fair, was rising behind the thick boughs of the apple-trees.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
scrapingnounUS /ˈskreɪpɪŋ/
(usually plural) a fragment scraped off of something and collected
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading The red of twilight had faded, and the silver moon, round and fair, was rising behind the thick boughs of the apple-trees.
solelyadverbUS /ˈsoʊəli/
without any others being included or involved
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
of high or superior quality or performance
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LETTER.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The red of twilight had faded, and the silver moon, round and fair, was rising behind the thick boughs of the apple-trees.
thoughtfuladjectiveUS /ˈθɔːtfəl/
having intellectual depth
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MARY returned to the quietude of her room.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading The red of twilight had faded, and the silver moon, round and fair, was rising behind the thick boughs of the apple-trees.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The red of twilight had faded, and the silver moon, round and fair, was rising behind the thick boughs of the apple-trees.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
belonging to which person
From this reading She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
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 She sat down in the window, thoughtful and sad, and listened to the crickets, whose ignorant jollity often sounds as mournfully to us mortals as ours may to superior beings.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
wretches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the little hoarse, black wretches were scraping and creaking, as if life and death were invented solely for their pleasure, and the world were created only to give them a good time in it.
