used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “The story is simply this,” said the painter after some time.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac-blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
any thing at all
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
BasilnounUS /ˈbæzəl/
any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum
From this reading Lord Henry felt as if he could hear Basil Hallward’s heart beating, and wondered what was coming.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading Lord Henry felt as if he could hear Basil Hallward’s heart beating, and wondered what was coming.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
believingnounUS /bɪˈliːvɪŋ/
the cognitive process that leads to convictions
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
blossomsnounUS /ˈblɑːsəmz/
plural of “blossom” — reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts
From this reading The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac-blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
chirrupnoun
a series of chirps
From this reading A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
clusteringnounUS /ˈklʌstərɪŋ/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac-blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Lord Henry felt as if he could hear Basil Hallward’s heart beating, and wondered what was coming.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Lord Henry felt as if he could hear Basil Hallward’s heart beating, and wondered what was coming.
disknounUS /dɪsk/
something with a round shape resembling a flat circular plate
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
dragon-fly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Lord Henry felt as if he could hear Basil Hallward’s heart beating, and wondered what was coming.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac-blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac-blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.
gauzenounUS /ɡɔːz/
(medicine) bleached cotton cloth of plain weave used for bandages and dressings
From this reading A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
grasshoppernounUS /ˈɡræshɑːpər/
terrestrial plant-eating insect with hind legs adapted for leaping
From this reading A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
Hallward's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lord Henry felt as if he could hear Basil Hallward’s heart beating, and wondered what was coming.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Lord Henry felt as if he could hear Basil Hallward’s heart beating, and wondered what was coming.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Lord Henry felt as if he could hear Basil Hallward’s heart beating, and wondered what was coming.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac-blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.
a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second
From this reading Lord Henry felt as if he could hear Basil Hallward’s heart beating, and wondered what was coming.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Lord Henry felt as if he could hear Basil Hallward’s heart beating, and wondered what was coming.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac-blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.
incredibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkredəbəl/
beyond belief or understanding
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
intentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtentli/
with strained or eager attention
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
languidadjectiveUS /ˈlæŋɡwəd/
lacking spirit or liveliness
From this reading The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac-blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
lilac-blooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac-blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
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 A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading Lord Henry felt as if he could hear Basil Hallward’s heart beating, and wondered what was coming.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac-blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
painternounUS /ˈpeɪntər/
an artist who paints
From this reading “The story is simply this,” said the painter after some time.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “The story is simply this,” said the painter after some time.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac-blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.
and nothing more
From this reading “The story is simply this,” said the painter after some time.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac-blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac-blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading “The story is simply this,” said the painter after some time.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac-blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “The story is simply this,” said the painter after some time.
threadverbUS /θred/
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “The story is simply this,” said the painter after some time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac-blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac-blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lord Henry felt as if he could hear Basil Hallward’s heart beating, and wondered what was coming.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Lord Henry felt as if he could hear Basil Hallward’s heart beating, and wondered what was coming.
white-feathered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am quite sure I shall understand it,” he replied, gazing intently at the little golden, white-feathered disk, “and as for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.”
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac-blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading A grasshopper began to chirrup by the wall, and like a blue thread a long thin dragon-fly floated past on its brown gauze wings.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac-blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading Lord Henry felt as if he could hear Basil Hallward’s heart beating, and wondered what was coming.
