used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The scene was set in a spacious clearing, with a wealth of spruce and poplar and jack-pine rising out of the tangle of undergrowth encompassing it.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
AuroranounUS /ərˈɔːrə/
the first light of day
From this reading The Aurora Clan It was brilliant moonlight.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading In the cloudlessness of the night the mysterious blaze of the Aurora had transformed the hours of darkness.
bluffsnounUS /blʌfs/
plural of “bluff” — a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading The Aurora Clan It was brilliant moonlight.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
ClannounUS /klæn/
group of people related by blood or marriage
From this reading The Aurora Clan It was brilliant moonlight.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading The scene was set in a spacious clearing, with a wealth of spruce and poplar and jack-pine rising out of the tangle of undergrowth encompassing it.
cloudlessnessnoun
the lightness of a sunny day when there are no clouds in the sky
From this reading In the cloudlessness of the night the mysterious blaze of the Aurora had transformed the hours of darkness.
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading In the cloudlessness of the night the mysterious blaze of the Aurora had transformed the hours of darkness.
dimmedadjectiveUS /dɪmd/
made dim or less bright
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
domenounUS /doʊm/
a concave shape whose distinguishing characteristic is that the concavity faces downward
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
encompassingadjectiveUS /enˈkʌmpəsɪŋ/
broad in scope or content
From this reading The scene was set in a spacious clearing, with a wealth of spruce and poplar and jack-pine rising out of the tangle of undergrowth encompassing it.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
in a gradual manner
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the cloudlessness of the night the mysterious blaze of the Aurora had transformed the hours of darkness.
heavenlyadjectiveUS /ˈhevənli/
relating to or inhabiting a divine heaven
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading In the cloudlessness of the night the mysterious blaze of the Aurora had transformed the hours of darkness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the cloudlessness of the night the mysterious blaze of the Aurora had transformed the hours of darkness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Aurora Clan It was brilliant moonlight.
jack-pine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene was set in a spacious clearing, with a wealth of spruce and poplar and jack-pine rising out of the tangle of undergrowth encompassing it.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
limitsnounUS /ˈlɪməts/
plural of “limit” — the greatest possible degree of something
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
provided with artificial light
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
MillionsnounUS /ˈmɪljənz/
plural of “million” — the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
the light of the Moon
From this reading The Aurora Clan It was brilliant moonlight.
in motion
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
of an obscure nature
From this reading In the cloudlessness of the night the mysterious blaze of the Aurora had transformed the hours of darkness.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading In the cloudlessness of the night the mysterious blaze of the Aurora had transformed the hours of darkness.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The scene was set in a spacious clearing, with a wealth of spruce and poplar and jack-pine rising out of the tangle of undergrowth encompassing it.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
poplarnounUS /ˈpɑːplər/
soft light-colored non-durable wood of the poplar
From this reading The scene was set in a spacious clearing, with a wealth of spruce and poplar and jack-pine rising out of the tangle of undergrowth encompassing it.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading The scene was set in a spacious clearing, with a wealth of spruce and poplar and jack-pine rising out of the tangle of undergrowth encompassing it.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading The scene was set in a spacious clearing, with a wealth of spruce and poplar and jack-pine rising out of the tangle of undergrowth encompassing it.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The scene was set in a spacious clearing, with a wealth of spruce and poplar and jack-pine rising out of the tangle of undergrowth encompassing it.
sheennounUS /ʃiːn/
the visual property of something that shines with reflected light
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
in or at or to some place
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
spaciousadjectiveUS /ˈspeɪʃəs/
very large in expanse or scope
From this reading The scene was set in a spacious clearing, with a wealth of spruce and poplar and jack-pine rising out of the tangle of undergrowth encompassing it.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
sprucenounUS /spruːs/
light soft moderately strong wood of spruce trees; used especially for timbers and millwork
From this reading The scene was set in a spacious clearing, with a wealth of spruce and poplar and jack-pine rising out of the tangle of undergrowth encompassing it.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
tanglenounUS /ˈtæŋɡəl/
a twisted and tangled mass that is highly interwoven
From this reading The scene was set in a spacious clearing, with a wealth of spruce and poplar and jack-pine rising out of the tangle of undergrowth encompassing it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Aurora Clan It was brilliant moonlight.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
in the direction of
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
transformedadjectiveUS /trænˈsfɔːrmd/
given a completely different form or appearance
From this reading In the cloudlessness of the night the mysterious blaze of the Aurora had transformed the hours of darkness.
undergrowthnounUS /ˈʌndərɡroʊθ/
the brush (small trees and bushes and ferns etc.) growing beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
From this reading The scene was set in a spacious clearing, with a wealth of spruce and poplar and jack-pine rising out of the tangle of undergrowth encompassing it.
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Aurora Clan It was brilliant moonlight.
the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money
From this reading The scene was set in a spacious clearing, with a wealth of spruce and poplar and jack-pine rising out of the tangle of undergrowth encompassing it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Millions of stars were shining on the velvet of the heavenly dome, but their sheen was dimmed against the vivid spread of moving colour that lit the northern horizon.
in or at the place that
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading It was somewhere beyond the city limits where the plain rose gently towards the distant, surrounding hills, and the open gave place to wide bluffs of forest land.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The scene was set in a spacious clearing, with a wealth of spruce and poplar and jack-pine rising out of the tangle of undergrowth encompassing it.
