used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
AlongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Along the top of the high cliffs that frowned darkling over the sea, young Barclay Stuart was trudging homewards to his mother’s cottage.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
APPARITIONnounUS /ˌæpərˈɪʃən/
a ghostly appearing figure
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
Barclay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Along the top of the high cliffs that frowned darkling over the sea, young Barclay Stuart was trudging homewards to his mother’s cottage.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading In his right hand he swung a string of beautiful sea fish, over his left shoulder he bore his fishing-rod, and as he walked he sang to himself.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
blue-blackadjective
of black tinged with blue
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
cause to be bored
From this reading In his right hand he swung a string of beautiful sea fish, over his left shoulder he bore his fishing-rod, and as he walked he sang to himself.
the act of burning something
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
cliffsnounUS /klɪfs/
plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock
From this reading Along the top of the high cliffs that frowned darkling over the sea, young Barclay Stuart was trudging homewards to his mother’s cottage.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
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 “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
coppernounUS /ˈkɑːpər/
a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
a small house with a single story
From this reading Along the top of the high cliffs that frowned darkling over the sea, young Barclay Stuart was trudging homewards to his mother’s cottage.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
darklingadjective
uncannily or threateningly dark or obscure
From this reading Along the top of the high cliffs that frowned darkling over the sea, young Barclay Stuart was trudging homewards to his mother’s cottage.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading No one had seen the sun go down.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading In his right hand he swung a string of beautiful sea fish, over his left shoulder he bore his fishing-rod, and as he walked he sang to himself.
fishing-rod
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his right hand he swung a string of beautiful sea fish, over his left shoulder he bore his fishing-rod, and as he walked he sang to himself.
fringing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
frownedverbUS /fraʊnd/
past form of “frown” — look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading Along the top of the high cliffs that frowned darkling over the sea, young Barclay Stuart was trudging homewards to his mother’s cottage.
gloamingnounUS /ˈɡloʊmɪŋ/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading No one had seen the sun go down.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No one had seen the sun go down.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading In his right hand he swung a string of beautiful sea fish, over his left shoulder he bore his fishing-rod, and as he walked he sang to himself.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In his right hand he swung a string of beautiful sea fish, over his left shoulder he bore his fishing-rod, and as he walked he sang to himself.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Along the top of the high cliffs that frowned darkling over the sea, young Barclay Stuart was trudging homewards to his mother’s cottage.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading In his right hand he swung a string of beautiful sea fish, over his left shoulder he bore his fishing-rod, and as he walked he sang to himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Along the top of the high cliffs that frowned darkling over the sea, young Barclay Stuart was trudging homewards to his mother’s cottage.
homewardsadverb
toward home
From this reading Along the top of the high cliffs that frowned darkling over the sea, young Barclay Stuart was trudging homewards to his mother’s cottage.
huenounUS /hjuː/
the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
and nothing more
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading In his right hand he swung a string of beautiful sea fish, over his left shoulder he bore his fishing-rod, and as he walked he sang to himself.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
luridadjectiveUS /ˈlʊrəd/
horrible in fierceness or savagery
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Along the top of the high cliffs that frowned darkling over the sea, young Barclay Stuart was trudging homewards to his mother’s cottage.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
not any; not one
From this reading No one had seen the sun go down.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one had seen the sun go down.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
precisely, exactly
From this reading In his right hand he swung a string of beautiful sea fish, over his left shoulder he bore his fishing-rod, and as he walked he sang to himself.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng
From this reading In his right hand he swung a string of beautiful sea fish, over his left shoulder he bore his fishing-rod, and as he walked he sang to himself.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading No one had seen the sun go down.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading In his right hand he swung a string of beautiful sea fish, over his left shoulder he bore his fishing-rod, and as he walked he sang to himself.
soughverbUS /saʊf/
make a murmuring sound
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
a lightweight cord
From this reading In his right hand he swung a string of beautiful sea fish, over his left shoulder he bore his fishing-rod, and as he walked he sang to himself.
StuartnounUS /ˈstuːərt/
United States painter best known for his portraits of George Washington (1755-1828)
From this reading Along the top of the high cliffs that frowned darkling over the sea, young Barclay Stuart was trudging homewards to his mother’s cottage.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading No one had seen the sun go down.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading In his right hand he swung a string of beautiful sea fish, over his left shoulder he bore his fishing-rod, and as he walked he sang to himself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
up to a particular time
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Along the top of the high cliffs that frowned darkling over the sea, young Barclay Stuart was trudging homewards to his mother’s cottage.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Along the top of the high cliffs that frowned darkling over the sea, young Barclay Stuart was trudging homewards to his mother’s cottage.
topsadjectiveUS /tɑːps/
of the highest quality
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
towersnounUS /ˈtaʊərz/
plural of “tower” — a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
trudgingverbUS /ˈtrʌdʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “trudge” — walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
From this reading Along the top of the high cliffs that frowned darkling over the sea, young Barclay Stuart was trudging homewards to his mother’s cottage.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading In his right hand he swung a string of beautiful sea fish, over his left shoulder he bore his fishing-rod, and as he walked he sang to himself.
WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading “_WAS IT AN APPARITION?_” There was a dreary sough in the wind that night, as it blew cold and damp over the dull grey sea.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It had disappeared behind banks of blue-black clouds, like rocks and towers, just fringing their tops with a lurid and burning copper hue as it sank and sank, till gloaming would have told one that the sun had set.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Along the top of the high cliffs that frowned darkling over the sea, young Barclay Stuart was trudging homewards to his mother’s cottage.
