used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A night of dread foreboding, of weary watching for the day that seemed as if it would never come.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading With what tantalising slowness did the snail-like stars crawl across the black vault of the heavens!
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading But no need to await the dawn for these; already they were here.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And when day came, what then?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A night of dread foreboding, of weary watching for the day that seemed as if it would never come.
awaitverbUS /əˈweɪt/
look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading But no need to await the dawn for these; already they were here.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading With what tantalising slowness did the snail-like stars crawl across the black vault of the heavens!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But no need to await the dawn for these; already they were here.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading And when day came, what then?
certaintynounUS /ˈsɜːrtənti/
the state of being certain
From this reading Hunger and thirst, danger and despair, and the certainty of death!
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A night of dread foreboding, of weary watching for the day that seemed as if it would never come.
crawlverbUS /krɔːl/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading With what tantalising slowness did the snail-like stars crawl across the black vault of the heavens!
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading Hunger and thirst, danger and despair, and the certainty of death!
the first light of day
From this reading But no need to await the dawn for these; already they were here.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading A night of dread foreboding, of weary watching for the day that seemed as if it would never come.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Hunger and thirst, danger and despair, and the certainty of death!
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading Hunger and thirst, danger and despair, and the certainty of death!
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading With what tantalising slowness did the snail-like stars crawl across the black vault of the heavens!
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading A night of dread foreboding, of weary watching for the day that seemed as if it would never come.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A night of dread foreboding, of weary watching for the day that seemed as if it would never come.
forebodingnounUS /fɔːrˈboʊdɪŋ/
a feeling of evil to come
From this reading A night of dread foreboding, of weary watching for the day that seemed as if it would never come.
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading With what tantalising slowness did the snail-like stars crawl across the black vault of the heavens!
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading But no need to await the dawn for these; already they were here.
HungernounUS /ˈhʌŋɡər/
a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation
From this reading Hunger and thirst, danger and despair, and the certainty of death!
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A night of dread foreboding, of weary watching for the day that seemed as if it would never come.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A night of dread foreboding, of weary watching for the day that seemed as if it would never come.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading But no need to await the dawn for these; already they were here.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading A night of dread foreboding, of weary watching for the day that seemed as if it would never come.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A night of dread foreboding, of weary watching for the day that seemed as if it would never come.
not any; not one
From this reading But no need to await the dawn for these; already they were here.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A night of dread foreboding, of weary watching for the day that seemed as if it would never come.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A night of dread foreboding, of weary watching for the day that seemed as if it would never come.
slownessnounUS /ˈsloʊnəs/
unskillfulness resulting from a lack of training
From this reading With what tantalising slowness did the snail-like stars crawl across the black vault of the heavens!
snail-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With what tantalising slowness did the snail-like stars crawl across the black vault of the heavens!
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading With what tantalising slowness did the snail-like stars crawl across the black vault of the heavens!
tantalisingadjective
arousing desire or expectation for something unattainable or mockingly out of reach
From this reading With what tantalising slowness did the snail-like stars crawl across the black vault of the heavens!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A night of dread foreboding, of weary watching for the day that seemed as if it would never come.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A night of dread foreboding, of weary watching for the day that seemed as if it would never come.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And when day came, what then?
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But no need to await the dawn for these; already they were here.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But no need to await the dawn for these; already they were here.
thirstnounUS /θɜːrst/
a physiological need to drink
From this reading Hunger and thirst, danger and despair, and the certainty of death!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But no need to await the dawn for these; already they were here.
vaultnounUS /vɒlt/
An arched structure of masonry forming a ceiling, or a secure subterranean storage room.
From this reading With what tantalising slowness did the snail-like stars crawl across the black vault of the heavens!
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading A night of dread foreboding, of weary watching for the day that seemed as if it would never come.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading A night of dread foreboding, of weary watching for the day that seemed as if it would never come.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But no need to await the dawn for these; already they were here.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading With what tantalising slowness did the snail-like stars crawl across the black vault of the heavens!
at the time that
From this reading And when day came, what then?
in the company of; together with
From this reading With what tantalising slowness did the snail-like stars crawl across the black vault of the heavens!
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A night of dread foreboding, of weary watching for the day that seemed as if it would never come.
