used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE WASHING OF HANDS To a woman’s affair flocked matron and maid, till the castle seemed a hive of rock-bees.
AfaradverbUS /əˈfɑːr/
(old-fashioned) at or from or to a great distance; far
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading THE WASHING OF HANDS To a woman’s affair flocked matron and maid, till the castle seemed a hive of rock-bees.
alarmsnounUS /əˈlɑːrmz/
plural of “alarm” — fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE WASHING OF HANDS To a woman’s affair flocked matron and maid, till the castle seemed a hive of rock-bees.
Arthur'snounUS /ˈɑːrθərz/
possessive form of “arthur” — elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Her time was short—but one could scarcely tell.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading THE WASHING OF HANDS To a woman’s affair flocked matron and maid, till the castle seemed a hive of rock-bees.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading June was in and well in, skies were clean, the twilight long in coming and loth to go.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading June was in and well in, skies were clean, the twilight long in coming and loth to go.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
dark-blueadjective
of a dark shade of blue
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
discreetadjectiveUS /dɪˈskriːt/
marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
faredverbUS /ferd/
past form of “fare” — proceed or get along
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
flockedverbUS /flɑːkt/
past form of “flock” — move as a crowd or in a group
From this reading THE WASHING OF HANDS To a woman’s affair flocked matron and maid, till the castle seemed a hive of rock-bees.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
gathering-in
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
a man of refinement
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading June was in and well in, skies were clean, the twilight long in coming and loth to go.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading THE WASHING OF HANDS To a woman’s affair flocked matron and maid, till the castle seemed a hive of rock-bees.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
hivenounUS /haɪv/
a teeming multitude
From this reading THE WASHING OF HANDS To a woman’s affair flocked matron and maid, till the castle seemed a hive of rock-bees.
hummingnounUS /ˈhʌmɪŋ/
a humming noise
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
not in action or at work
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading June was in and well in, skies were clean, the twilight long in coming and loth to go.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
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 June was in and well in, skies were clean, the twilight long in coming and loth to go.
lothadjectiveUS /lɑːθ/
unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
From this reading June was in and well in, skies were clean, the twilight long in coming and loth to go.
a female domestic
From this reading THE WASHING OF HANDS To a woman’s affair flocked matron and maid, till the castle seemed a hive of rock-bees.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
matronnounUS /ˈmeɪtrən/
a married woman (usually middle-aged with children) who is staid and dignified
From this reading THE WASHING OF HANDS To a woman’s affair flocked matron and maid, till the castle seemed a hive of rock-bees.
information about recent and important events
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
night'snounUS /naɪts/
possessive form of “night” — the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE WASHING OF HANDS To a woman’s affair flocked matron and maid, till the castle seemed a hive of rock-bees.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Her time was short—but one could scarcely tell.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
palingnoun
a fence made of upright pickets
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
physiciannounUS /fəˈzɪʃən/
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
rock-bees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WASHING OF HANDS To a woman’s affair flocked matron and maid, till the castle seemed a hive of rock-bees.
roofsnounUS /ruːfs/
plural of “roof” — a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
only a very short time before
From this reading Her time was short—but one could scarcely tell.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading THE WASHING OF HANDS To a woman’s affair flocked matron and maid, till the castle seemed a hive of rock-bees.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
shineverbUS /ʃaɪn/
be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Her time was short—but one could scarcely tell.
skiesnounUS /skaɪz/
plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading June was in and well in, skies were clean, the twilight long in coming and loth to go.
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
swarmnounUS /swɔːrm/
a moving crowd
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
express in words
From this reading Her time was short—but one could scarcely tell.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WASHING OF HANDS To a woman’s affair flocked matron and maid, till the castle seemed a hive of rock-bees.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
up to a particular time
From this reading THE WASHING OF HANDS To a woman’s affair flocked matron and maid, till the castle seemed a hive of rock-bees.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Her time was short—but one could scarcely tell.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE WASHING OF HANDS To a woman’s affair flocked matron and maid, till the castle seemed a hive of rock-bees.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading June was in and well in, skies were clean, the twilight long in coming and loth to go.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
WASHINGnounUS /ˈwɑːʃɪŋ/
the work of cleansing (usually with soap and water)
From this reading THE WASHING OF HANDS To a woman’s affair flocked matron and maid, till the castle seemed a hive of rock-bees.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading June was in and well in, skies were clean, the twilight long in coming and loth to go.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading June was in and well in, skies were clean, the twilight long in coming and loth to go.
wide-eared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
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 Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading THE WASHING OF HANDS To a woman’s affair flocked matron and maid, till the castle seemed a hive of rock-bees.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading Queen Mary lay idle by her window, and watched the red roofs turn purple, the hills grow black, the paling of the light from yellow to green, the night’s solemn gathering-in, the star shine clear in a dark-blue bed out there over Arthur’s Seat.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Afar off, it was said, you could hear them humming within; on sudden alarms out they came in a swarm, and ill fared physician or priest, or discreet, wide-eared gentleman sent by his wife to get a piece of news.
