adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Now and again the thin, clear music of the band drifted across from the park.
after-dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading Now and again the thin, clear music of the band drifted across from the park.
amusedadjectiveUS /əˈmjuːzd/
pleasantly occupied
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The vermilion deepened into charred umber, and soon the west was a blackened grate; another day vanished in ashes.
anvilnounUS /ˈænvəl/
a heavy block of iron or steel on which hot metals are shaped by hammering
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/
The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.
From this reading The vermilion deepened into charred umber, and soon the west was a blackened grate; another day vanished in ashes.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
ballnounUS /bɔːl/
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
bandnounUS /bænd/
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading Now and again the thin, clear music of the band drifted across from the park.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
billiardsnounUS /ˈbɪljərdz/
any of several games played on rectangular cloth-covered table (with cushioned edges) in which long tapering cue sticks are used to propel ivory (or composition) balls
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
billowingadjectiveUS /ˈbɪloʊɪŋ/
characterized by great swelling waves or surges
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
blackenedadjectiveUS /ˈblækənd/
darkened by smoke
From this reading The vermilion deepened into charred umber, and soon the west was a blackened grate; another day vanished in ashes.
blurredadjectiveUS /blɜːrd/
indistinct or hazy in outline
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
brassnounUS /bræs/
an alloy of copper and zinc
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
charredverbUS /tʃɑːrd/
inflected form of “char” — burn to charcoal
From this reading The vermilion deepened into charred umber, and soon the west was a blackened grate; another day vanished in ashes.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
citynounUS /ˈsɪti/
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
clearverbUS /klɪr/
rid of obstructions
From this reading Now and again the thin, clear music of the band drifted across from the park.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
deepenedverbUS /ˈdiːpənd/
past form of “deepen” — make more intense, stronger, or more marked
From this reading The vermilion deepened into charred umber, and soon the west was a blackened grate; another day vanished in ashes.
dinnernounUS /ˈdɪnər/
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading Now and again the thin, clear music of the band drifted across from the park.
embersnounUS /ˈembərz/
plural of “ember” — a hot fragment of wood or coal that is left from a fire and is glowing or smoldering
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
filmyadjective
so thin as to transmit light
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
gayeradjectiveUS /ˈɡeɪər/
comparative of “gay” — bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
glowingadjectiveUS /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/
highly enthusiastic
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
goldenadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊldən/
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/
a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
From this reading The vermilion deepened into charred umber, and soon the west was a blackened grate; another day vanished in ashes.
graynounUS /ɡreɪ/
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
hillsnounUS /hɪlz/
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
hilltopsnounUS /ˈhɪltɑːps/
plural of “hilltop” — the peak of a hill
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The vermilion deepened into charred umber, and soon the west was a blackened grate; another day vanished in ashes.
increasedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkriːst/
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The vermilion deepened into charred umber, and soon the west was a blackened grate; another day vanished in ashes.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
keeneradjectiveUS /ˈkiːnər/
comparative of “keen” — having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
lakenounUS /leɪk/
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
lampsnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
landscapenounUS /ˈlændskeɪp/
an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
largeradjectiveUS /ˈlɑːrdʒər/
large or big relative to something else
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
leavingnounUS /ˈliːvɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
maddernounUS /ˈmædər/
Eurasian herb having small yellow flowers and red roots formerly an important source of the dye alizarin
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
Maurice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
musicnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪk/
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading Now and again the thin, clear music of the band drifted across from the park.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
pallornoun
unnatural lack of color in the skin (as from bruising or sickness or emotional distress)
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
parknounUS /pɑːrk/
a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property
From this reading Now and again the thin, clear music of the band drifted across from the park.
partnounUS /pɑːrt/
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
rustedadjectiveUS /ˈrʌstɪd/
having accumulated rust
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
shadowsnounUS /ˈʃædoʊz/
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
sleptverbUS /slept/
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
slidverbUS /slɪd/
inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
smokenounUS /smoʊk/
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
smolderingadjectiveUS /ˈsmoʊldərɪŋ/
showing scarcely suppressed anger
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
solitaryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləteri/
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
soonadverbUS /suːn/
in the near future
From this reading The vermilion deepened into charred umber, and soon the west was a blackened grate; another day vanished in ashes.
sparksnounUS /spɑːrks/
plural of “spark” — a momentary flash of light
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
sprangverbUS /spræŋ/
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
sunnounUS /sʌn/
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
terracenounUS /ˈterəs/
usually paved outdoor area adjoining a residence
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Now and again the thin, clear music of the band drifted across from the park.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
touchverbUS /tʌtʃ/
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
umbernoun
an earth pigment
From this reading The vermilion deepened into charred umber, and soon the west was a blackened grate; another day vanished in ashes.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
vanishedadjectiveUS /ˈvænɪʃt/
having passed out of existence
From this reading The vermilion deepened into charred umber, and soon the west was a blackened grate; another day vanished in ashes.
vermilionadjectiveUS /vərˈmɪljən/
of a vivid red to reddish-orange color
From this reading The vermilion deepened into charred umber, and soon the west was a blackened grate; another day vanished in ashes.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The vermilion deepened into charred umber, and soon the west was a blackened grate; another day vanished in ashes.
watchedverbUS /wɑːtʃt/
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading He watched the sun as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
westnounUS /west/
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading The vermilion deepened into charred umber, and soon the west was a blackened grate; another day vanished in ashes.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
wiselyadverbUS /ˈwaɪzli/
in a wise manner
From this reading Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The filmy golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil.
