used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Ilex and cedar stood like sombre giants in a shimmering sea.
AfaradverbUS /əˈfɑːr/
(old-fashioned) at or from or to a great distance; far
From this reading Afar on the hills the great trees dreamed, dome on dome, touching the transient scarlet of the west.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Evening descended, and the green valley was full of golden light.
cataractnounUS /ˈkætərækt/
an eye disease that involves the clouding or opacification of the natural lens of the eye
From this reading The eastern slopes gleamed in the sun, a cataract of leaves plunging into gloom.
cedarnounUS /ˈsiːdər/
any of numerous trees of the family Cupressaceae that resemble cedars
From this reading Ilex and cedar stood like sombre giants in a shimmering sea.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading Evening descended, and the green valley was full of golden light.
domenounUS /doʊm/
a concave shape whose distinguishing characteristic is that the concavity faces downward
From this reading Afar on the hills the great trees dreamed, dome on dome, touching the transient scarlet of the west.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading Afar on the hills the great trees dreamed, dome on dome, touching the transient scarlet of the west.
lying toward or situated in the east
From this reading The eastern slopes gleamed in the sun, a cataract of leaves plunging into gloom.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Evening descended, and the green valley was full of golden light.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The forest was full of shadows and mysterious streams of gold, and a great silence shrouded the wilderness save for the restless thunder of the stream.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The forest was full of shadows and mysterious streams of gold, and a great silence shrouded the wilderness save for the restless thunder of the stream.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Evening descended, and the green valley was full of golden light.
giantsnounUS /ˈdʒaɪənts/
plural of “giant” — any creature of exceptional size
From this reading Ilex and cedar stood like sombre giants in a shimmering sea.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The eastern slopes gleamed in the sun, a cataract of leaves plunging into gloom.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading The eastern slopes gleamed in the sun, a cataract of leaves plunging into gloom.
coins made of gold
From this reading The forest was full of shadows and mysterious streams of gold, and a great silence shrouded the wilderness save for the restless thunder of the stream.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading Evening descended, and the green valley was full of golden light.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Afar on the hills the great trees dreamed, dome on dome, touching the transient scarlet of the west.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Evening descended, and the green valley was full of golden light.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Afar on the hills the great trees dreamed, dome on dome, touching the transient scarlet of the west.
Ilexnoun
a large genus of dicotyledonous trees and shrubs of the family Aquifoliaceae that have small flowers and berries (including hollies)
From this reading Ilex and cedar stood like sombre giants in a shimmering sea.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ilex and cedar stood like sombre giants in a shimmering sea.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The eastern slopes gleamed in the sun, a cataract of leaves plunging into gloom.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The eastern slopes gleamed in the sun, a cataract of leaves plunging into gloom.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Evening descended, and the green valley was full of golden light.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Ilex and cedar stood like sombre giants in a shimmering sea.
of an obscure nature
From this reading The forest was full of shadows and mysterious streams of gold, and a great silence shrouded the wilderness save for the restless thunder of the stream.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Evening descended, and the green valley was full of golden light.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Afar on the hills the great trees dreamed, dome on dome, touching the transient scarlet of the west.
plungingverbUS /ˈplʌndʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading The eastern slopes gleamed in the sun, a cataract of leaves plunging into gloom.
restlessadjectiveUS /ˈrestləs/
worried and uneasy
From this reading The forest was full of shadows and mysterious streams of gold, and a great silence shrouded the wilderness save for the restless thunder of the stream.
except for; apart from
From this reading The forest was full of shadows and mysterious streams of gold, and a great silence shrouded the wilderness save for the restless thunder of the stream.
scarletnounUS /ˈskɑːrlət/
a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge
From this reading Afar on the hills the great trees dreamed, dome on dome, touching the transient scarlet of the west.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Ilex and cedar stood like sombre giants in a shimmering sea.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The forest was full of shadows and mysterious streams of gold, and a great silence shrouded the wilderness save for the restless thunder of the stream.
shimmeringverbUS /ˈʃɪmərɪŋ/
-ing form of “shimmer” — shine with a weak or fitful light
From this reading Ilex and cedar stood like sombre giants in a shimmering sea.
shroudedverbUS /ˈʃraʊdɪd/
past form of “shroud” — cover as if with a shroud
From this reading The forest was full of shadows and mysterious streams of gold, and a great silence shrouded the wilderness save for the restless thunder of the stream.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The forest was full of shadows and mysterious streams of gold, and a great silence shrouded the wilderness save for the restless thunder of the stream.
slopesnounUS /sloʊps/
plural of “slope” — an elevated geological formation
From this reading The eastern slopes gleamed in the sun, a cataract of leaves plunging into gloom.
sombreadjective
lacking brightness or color; dull
From this reading Ilex and cedar stood like sombre giants in a shimmering sea.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Ilex and cedar stood like sombre giants in a shimmering sea.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading The forest was full of shadows and mysterious streams of gold, and a great silence shrouded the wilderness save for the restless thunder of the stream.
streamsnounUS /striːmz/
plural of “stream” — a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading The forest was full of shadows and mysterious streams of gold, and a great silence shrouded the wilderness save for the restless thunder of the stream.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The eastern slopes gleamed in the sun, a cataract of leaves plunging into gloom.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Evening descended, and the green valley was full of golden light.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading The forest was full of shadows and mysterious streams of gold, and a great silence shrouded the wilderness save for the restless thunder of the stream.
arousing affect
From this reading Afar on the hills the great trees dreamed, dome on dome, touching the transient scarlet of the west.
transientnounUS /ˈtrænʒənt/
one who stays for only a short time
From this reading Afar on the hills the great trees dreamed, dome on dome, touching the transient scarlet of the west.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Afar on the hills the great trees dreamed, dome on dome, touching the transient scarlet of the west.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Evening descended, and the green valley was full of golden light.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Evening descended, and the green valley was full of golden light.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading Afar on the hills the great trees dreamed, dome on dome, touching the transient scarlet of the west.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading The forest was full of shadows and mysterious streams of gold, and a great silence shrouded the wilderness save for the restless thunder of the stream.
