used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
anew
From this reading The first knocking upon the door did not disturb that sleep, and it was a long time before the knock was again sounded.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
Arlee's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The first knocking upon the door did not disturb that sleep, and it was a long time before the knock was again sounded.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
brightenedverbUS /ˈbraɪtənd/
past form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
brighteradjectiveUS /ˈbraɪtər/
comparative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
the appearance conveyed by a person's face
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
the first light of day
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The first knocking upon the door did not disturb that sleep, and it was a long time before the knock was again sounded.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
disturbverbUS /dɪˈstɜːrb/
move deeply
From this reading The first knocking upon the door did not disturb that sleep, and it was a long time before the knock was again sounded.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The first knocking upon the door did not disturb that sleep, and it was a long time before the knock was again sounded.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
dressingnounUS /ˈdresɪŋ/
savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
opinion or judgment
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first knocking upon the door did not disturb that sleep, and it was a long time before the knock was again sounded.
made afraid
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
coins made of gold
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
grayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The first knocking upon the door did not disturb that sleep, and it was a long time before the knock was again sounded.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading The first knocking upon the door did not disturb that sleep, and it was a long time before the knock was again sounded.
knockingnounUS /ˈnɑːkɪŋ/
the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
From this reading The first knocking upon the door did not disturb that sleep, and it was a long time before the knock was again sounded.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
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 The first knocking upon the door did not disturb that sleep, and it was a long time before the knock was again sounded.
lurkingverbUS /ˈlɜːrkɪŋ/
-ing form of “lurk” — lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
mother-of-pearlnoun
the iridescent internal layer of a mollusk shell
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
mother-of-pearliness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The first knocking upon the door did not disturb that sleep, and it was a long time before the knock was again sounded.
obliviousadjectiveUS /əˈblɪviəs/
(followed by “to” or “of”) lacking conscious awareness of
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
opalnounUS /ˈoʊpəl/
a translucent mineral consisting of hydrated silica of variable color; some varieties are used as gemstones
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
paledverbUS /peɪld/
past form of “pale” — turn pale, as if in fear
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
peepedverbUS /piːpt/
past form of “peep” — look furtively
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/
a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
participate in games or sport
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
rabbit's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
raynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
rhythmnounUS /ˈrɪðəm/
the basic rhythmic unit in a piece of music
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
shimmeringverbUS /ˈʃɪmərɪŋ/
-ing form of “shimmer” — shine with a weak or fitful light
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
sillnounUS /sɪl/
structural member consisting of a continuous horizontal timber forming the lowest member of a framework or supporting structure
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
slantedadjectiveUS /ˈslæntɪd/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading The first knocking upon the door did not disturb that sleep, and it was a long time before the knock was again sounded.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading The first knocking upon the door did not disturb that sleep, and it was a long time before the knock was again sounded.
spectraladjectiveUS /ˈspektrəl/
of or relating to a spectrum
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
steadiedadjectiveUS /ˈstedid/
made steady or constant
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
tangledadjectiveUS /ˈtæŋɡəld/
in a confused mass
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The first knocking upon the door did not disturb that sleep, and it was a long time before the knock was again sounded.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The first knocking upon the door did not disturb that sleep, and it was a long time before the knock was again sounded.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
precisely as stated
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
wanadjectiveUS /wɑːn/
(of light) lacking in intensity or brightness; dim or feeble
From this reading A DESPERATE GAME Very slowly the black night grayed down into a wan, spectral morning, and slowly the gray morning paled into a dim mother-of-pearl dawn.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first knocking upon the door did not disturb that sleep, and it was a long time before the knock was again sounded.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And then Arlee's eyes closed, and the heart which had been beating like a frightened rabbit's at every sound and shadow steadied into a rhythm as regular as a clock.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
a Caucasian
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
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 And then suddenly the mother-of-pearliness brightened into a shimmering opal, and the ray of pale gold light slanted through the barred window and the bright face of new day peeped over the sill, staring out of countenance the lurking shadows of the night.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She slept like a tired baby; while the light grew brighter and higher, and reached in over the shining dressing table, over the white piano, to rest upon the oblivious face upon the couch and to play with the bright, tangled hair.
