used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
anew
From this reading They stood silently together, with only now and again a whispered word, waiting for they knew not what.
(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 There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
answeringadjectiveUS /ˈænsərɪŋ/
replying
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At five o’clock on this February morning it was still dark.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
an onerous or difficult concern
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
cabinsnounUS /ˈkæbənz/
plural of “cabin” — small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
a small house with a single story
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
creepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
placed crosswise
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading At five o’clock on this February morning it was still dark.
DominicnounUS /ˈdɑːmənɪk/
(Roman Catholic Church) Spanish priest who founded an order whose members became known as Dominicans or Black Friars (circa 1170-1221)
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
lying toward or situated in the east
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
eighteenadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːn/
being one more than seventeen
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
emergeverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒ/
come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading At five o’clock on this February morning it was still dark.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading At five o’clock on this February morning it was still dark.
flittingverbUS /ˈflɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “flit” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
brought together in one place
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
gleamsnounUS /ɡliːmz/
plural of “gleam” — an appearance of reflected light
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
inhabitedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈhæbətəd/
having inhabitants; lived in
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At five o’clock on this February morning it was still dark.
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading They stood silently together, with only now and again a whispered word, waiting for they knew not what.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
Malachy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
the force of workers available
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading At five o’clock on this February morning it was still dark.
muirisc
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They stood silently together, with only now and again a whispered word, waiting for they knew not what.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They stood silently together, with only now and again a whispered word, waiting for they knew not what.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading At five o’clock on this February morning it was still dark.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At five o’clock on this February morning it was still dark.
and nothing more
From this reading They stood silently together, with only now and again a whispered word, waiting for they knew not what.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
the local environment
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
piernounUS /pɪr/
a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
in the near future
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
Identical; not different.
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
cut with a saw
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
semblancenounUS /ˈsembləns/
an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
without speaking
From this reading They stood silently together, with only now and again a whispered word, waiting for they knew not what.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
not in physical motion
From this reading At five o’clock on this February morning it was still dark.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading They stood silently together, with only now and again a whispered word, waiting for they knew not what.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They stood silently together, with only now and again a whispered word, waiting for they knew not what.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At five o’clock on this February morning it was still dark.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading They stood silently together, with only now and again a whispered word, waiting for they knew not what.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading For more than half an hour a light had been from time to time visible, flitting about in the inhabited parts of the castle.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading They stood silently together, with only now and again a whispered word, waiting for they knew not what.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At five o’clock on this February morning it was still dark.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading They stood silently together, with only now and again a whispered word, waiting for they knew not what.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Presently, by the faint semblance of light which was creeping up behind the eastern hills, they saw Jerry, Malachy and Dominic approaching, each bearing a burden on his back.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading They stood silently together, with only now and again a whispered word, waiting for they knew not what.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading There was no answering gleams from any of the cottage windows, along the other side of the village green; but all the same, solitary figures began to emerge from the cabins, until eighteen men had crossed the open space and were gathered upon the little stone pier at the edge of the _muirisc_.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They stood silently together, with only now and again a whispered word, waiting for they knew not what.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading They stood silently together, with only now and again a whispered word, waiting for they knew not what.
