used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The air was thick--and in the upper gloom The bat--or something in its shape--was winging; And on the wall, as chilly as a tomb, The Death's-Head moth was clinging.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
actionsnounUS /ˈækʃənz/
plural of “action” — something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The air was thick--and in the upper gloom The bat--or something in its shape--was winging; And on the wall, as chilly as a tomb, The Death's-Head moth was clinging.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
ascendedverbUS /əˈsendɪd/
past form of “ascend” — travel up
From this reading Those dreary stairs, where with the sounding stress Of ev'ry step so many echoes blended, The mind, with dark misgivings, fear'd to guess How many feet ascended.
a Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
batnounUS /bæt/
nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation by which they navigate
From this reading The air was thick--and in the upper gloom The bat--or something in its shape--was winging; And on the wall, as chilly as a tomb, The Death's-Head moth was clinging.
blendedadjectiveUS /ˈblendɪd/
combined or mixed together so that the constituent parts are indistinguishable
From this reading Those dreary stairs, where with the sounding stress Of ev'ry step so many echoes blended, The mind, with dark misgivings, fear'd to guess How many feet ascended.
(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
From this reading Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
carnaladjectiveUS /ˈkɑːrnəl/
marked by the appetites and passions of the body
From this reading Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
chapelnounUS /ˈtʃæpəl/
a place of worship that has its own altar
From this reading Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
charnelnoun
a vault or building where corpses or bones are deposited
From this reading Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/
not characterized by emotion
From this reading The air was thick--and in the upper gloom The bat--or something in its shape--was winging; And on the wall, as chilly as a tomb, The Death's-Head moth was clinging.
clingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading The air was thick--and in the upper gloom The bat--or something in its shape--was winging; And on the wall, as chilly as a tomb, The Death's-Head moth was clinging.
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 Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
consecratedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnsəkreɪtɪd/
solemnly dedicated to or set apart for a high or sacred purpose
From this reading Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
dappledadjective
having spots or patches of color
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
darklyadverbUS /ˈdɑːrkli/
without light
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
Death's-Head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The air was thick--and in the upper gloom The bat--or something in its shape--was winging; And on the wall, as chilly as a tomb, The Death's-Head moth was clinging.
DeprivedadjectiveUS /dɪˈpraɪvd/
marked by deprivation especially of the necessities of life or healthful environmental influences
From this reading Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading Those dreary stairs, where with the sounding stress Of ev'ry step so many echoes blended, The mind, with dark misgivings, fear'd to guess How many feet ascended.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
echoesnounUS /ˈekoʊz/
plural of “echo” — the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves
From this reading Those dreary stairs, where with the sounding stress Of ev'ry step so many echoes blended, The mind, with dark misgivings, fear'd to guess How many feet ascended.
ev'ry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those dreary stairs, where with the sounding stress Of ev'ry step so many echoes blended, The mind, with dark misgivings, fear'd to guess How many feet ascended.
fear'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those dreary stairs, where with the sounding stress Of ev'ry step so many echoes blended, The mind, with dark misgivings, fear'd to guess How many feet ascended.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Those dreary stairs, where with the sounding stress Of ev'ry step so many echoes blended, The mind, with dark misgivings, fear'd to guess How many feet ascended.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading The air was thick--and in the upper gloom The bat--or something in its shape--was winging; And on the wall, as chilly as a tomb, The Death's-Head moth was clinging.
depressingly dark
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading Those dreary stairs, where with the sounding stress Of ev'ry step so many echoes blended, The mind, with dark misgivings, fear'd to guess How many feet ascended.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those dreary stairs, where with the sounding stress Of ev'ry step so many echoes blended, The mind, with dark misgivings, fear'd to guess How many feet ascended.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
an instinctive motive
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
internaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɜːrnəl/
happening or arising or located within some limits or especially surface
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
leopard's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Those dreary stairs, where with the sounding stress Of ev'ry step so many echoes blended, The mind, with dark misgivings, fear'd to guess How many feet ascended.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Those dreary stairs, where with the sounding stress Of ev'ry step so many echoes blended, The mind, with dark misgivings, fear'd to guess How many feet ascended.
misgivingsnounUS /mɪsˈɡɪvɪŋz/
plural of “misgiving” — uneasiness about the fitness of an action
From this reading Those dreary stairs, where with the sounding stress Of ev'ry step so many echoes blended, The mind, with dark misgivings, fear'd to guess How many feet ascended.
mothnounUS /mɔːθ/
typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae
From this reading The air was thick--and in the upper gloom The bat--or something in its shape--was winging; And on the wall, as chilly as a tomb, The Death's-Head moth was clinging.
mouldverbUS /moʊld/
form in clay, wax, etc
From this reading Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
attach to a support
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
odorsnounUS /ˈoʊdərz/
plural of “odor” — any property detected by the olfactory system
From this reading Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The air was thick--and in the upper gloom The bat--or something in its shape--was winging; And on the wall, as chilly as a tomb, The Death's-Head moth was clinging.
and nothing more
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
promptingnounUS /ˈprɑːmptɪŋ/
persuasion formulated as a suggestion
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
rankly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
relicsnounUS /ˈrelɪks/
plural of “relic” — an antiquity that has survived from the distant past
From this reading Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
ritenounUS /raɪt/
an established ceremony prescribed by a religion
From this reading Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
rottedadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːtɪd/
damaged by decay; hence unsound and useless
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading The air was thick--and in the upper gloom The bat--or something in its shape--was winging; And on the wall, as chilly as a tomb, The Death's-Head moth was clinging.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The air was thick--and in the upper gloom The bat--or something in its shape--was winging; And on the wall, as chilly as a tomb, The Death's-Head moth was clinging.
soundingadjectiveUS /ˈsaʊndɪŋ/
appearing to be as specified; usually used as combining forms
From this reading Those dreary stairs, where with the sounding stress Of ev'ry step so many echoes blended, The mind, with dark misgivings, fear'd to guess How many feet ascended.
spoilsnounUS /spɔɪlz/
plural of “spoil” — (usually plural) valuables taken by violence (especially in war)
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
spottedadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːtɪd/
having spots or patches (small areas of contrasting color or texture)
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Those dreary stairs, where with the sounding stress Of ev'ry step so many echoes blended, The mind, with dark misgivings, fear'd to guess How many feet ascended.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
stressnounUS /stres/
the relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch)
From this reading Those dreary stairs, where with the sounding stress Of ev'ry step so many echoes blended, The mind, with dark misgivings, fear'd to guess How many feet ascended.
tempestnounUS /ˈtempəst/
a violent commotion or disturbance
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
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 air was thick--and in the upper gloom The bat--or something in its shape--was winging; And on the wall, as chilly as a tomb, The Death's-Head moth was clinging.
thicklyadverbUS /ˈθɪkli/
spoken with poor articulation as if with a thick tongue
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
up to a particular time
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
tombnounUS /tuːm/
a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone)
From this reading The air was thick--and in the upper gloom The bat--or something in its shape--was winging; And on the wall, as chilly as a tomb, The Death's-Head moth was clinging.
unwholesomeadjective
detrimental to physical or moral well-being
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
the topmost one of two
From this reading The air was thick--and in the upper gloom The bat--or something in its shape--was winging; And on the wall, as chilly as a tomb, The Death's-Head moth was clinging.
vaultnounUS /vɒlt/
An arched structure of masonry forming a ceiling, or a secure subterranean storage room.
From this reading Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
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 The air was thick--and in the upper gloom The bat--or something in its shape--was winging; And on the wall, as chilly as a tomb, The Death's-Head moth was clinging.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The tempest with its spoils had drifted in, Till each unwholesome stone was darkly spotted, As thickly as the leopard's dappled skin, With leaves that rankly rotted.
in or at the place that
From this reading Those dreary stairs, where with the sounding stress Of ev'ry step so many echoes blended, The mind, with dark misgivings, fear'd to guess How many feet ascended.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading 'Tis hard for human actions to account, Whether from reason or from impulse only-- But some internal prompting bade me mount The gloomy stairs and lonely.
wingingverbUS /ˈwɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “wing” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading The air was thick--and in the upper gloom The bat--or something in its shape--was winging; And on the wall, as chilly as a tomb, The Death's-Head moth was clinging.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Those gloomy stairs, so dark, and damp, and cold, With odors as from bones and relics carnal, Deprived of rite, and consecrated mould, The chapel vault, or charnel.
