used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading All was still and dark and desolate above and around the perishing man.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All was still and dark and desolate above and around the perishing man.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Nothing with life was visible save a huge raven which wheeled to and fro with a solemn croak and almost noiseless wing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The moon threw a fitful gleam now and then through a rift in the sailing clouds.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading All was still and dark and desolate above and around the perishing man.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
canoenounUS /kəˈnuː/
small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading The moon threw a fitful gleam now and then through a rift in the sailing clouds.
convulsiveadjectiveUS /kənˈvʌlsɪv/
affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions; resembling a spasm
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
croakverbUS /kroʊk/
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Nothing with life was visible save a huge raven which wheeled to and fro with a solemn croak and almost noiseless wing.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading All was still and dark and desolate above and around the perishing man.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading Night descended on the water.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading All was still and dark and desolate above and around the perishing man.
droopedverbUS /druːpt/
past form of “droop” — droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
drowningverbUS /ˈdraʊnɪŋ/
-ing form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
fitfuladjectiveUS /ˈfɪtfəl/
occurring in spells and often abruptly
From this reading The moon threw a fitful gleam now and then through a rift in the sailing clouds.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing with life was visible save a huge raven which wheeled to and fro with a solemn croak and almost noiseless wing.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The moon threw a fitful gleam now and then through a rift in the sailing clouds.
hold firmly
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
helplesslyadverbUS /ˈhelpləsli/
in a helpless manner
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Nothing with life was visible save a huge raven which wheeled to and fro with a solemn croak and almost noiseless wing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The moon threw a fitful gleam now and then through a rift in the sailing clouds.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Nothing with life was visible save a huge raven which wheeled to and fro with a solemn croak and almost noiseless wing.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
moderadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊdər/
comparative of “mod” — relating to a recently developed fashion or style
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The moon threw a fitful gleam now and then through a rift in the sailing clouds.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Night descended on the water.
noiselessadjective
making no sound
From this reading Nothing with life was visible save a huge raven which wheeled to and fro with a solemn croak and almost noiseless wing.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing with life was visible save a huge raven which wheeled to and fro with a solemn croak and almost noiseless wing.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The moon threw a fitful gleam now and then through a rift in the sailing clouds.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
perishingverbUS /ˈperɪʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “perish” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading All was still and dark and desolate above and around the perishing man.
ravenverbUS /ˈreɪvən/
obtain or seize by violence
From this reading Nothing with life was visible save a huge raven which wheeled to and fro with a solemn croak and almost noiseless wing.
riftnounUS /rɪft/
a gap between cloud masses
From this reading The moon threw a fitful gleam now and then through a rift in the sailing clouds.
sailingnounUS /ˈseɪlɪŋ/
the work of a sailor
From this reading The moon threw a fitful gleam now and then through a rift in the sailing clouds.
except for; apart from
From this reading Nothing with life was visible save a huge raven which wheeled to and fro with a solemn croak and almost noiseless wing.
past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading Nothing with life was visible save a huge raven which wheeled to and fro with a solemn croak and almost noiseless wing.
not in physical motion
From this reading All was still and dark and desolate above and around the perishing man.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The moon threw a fitful gleam now and then through a rift in the sailing clouds.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading The moon threw a fitful gleam now and then through a rift in the sailing clouds.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The moon threw a fitful gleam now and then through a rift in the sailing clouds.
tightenedverbUS /ˈtaɪtənd/
past form of “tighten” — make tight or tighter
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nothing with life was visible save a huge raven which wheeled to and fro with a solemn croak and almost noiseless wing.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading Nothing with life was visible save a huge raven which wheeled to and fro with a solemn croak and almost noiseless wing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All was still and dark and desolate above and around the perishing man.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Night descended on the water.
wheeledadjectiveUS /wiːld/
having wheels; often used in combination
From this reading Nothing with life was visible save a huge raven which wheeled to and fro with a solemn croak and almost noiseless wing.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Nothing with life was visible save a huge raven which wheeled to and fro with a solemn croak and almost noiseless wing.
wingnounUS /wɪŋ/
a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
From this reading Nothing with life was visible save a huge raven which wheeled to and fro with a solemn croak and almost noiseless wing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Oh! mine moder! mine moder!" he sighed, as his head drooped helplessly forward, though his fingers tightened on the canoe with the convulsive grasp of a drowning man.
