used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
(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 Queen's Chase lay in dark shadow under the starlight, the windows and doors all fastened except one, the inmates all sleeping save one.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
terminate
From this reading The lilies gleamed like pale spectres, the roses were wet with dew; the deer lay under the trees in the park; there was hardly a sound to break the holy calm.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
make calm or still
From this reading The lilies gleamed like pale spectres, the roses were wet with dew; the deer lay under the trees in the park; there was hardly a sound to break the holy calm.
go after with the intent to catch
From this reading Queen's Chase lay in dark shadow under the starlight, the windows and doors all fastened except one, the inmates all sleeping save one.
rid of obstructions
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading The great clock in the turret struck ten.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Queen's Chase lay in dark shadow under the starlight, the windows and doors all fastened except one, the inmates all sleeping save one.
distinguished from Bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers
From this reading The lilies gleamed like pale spectres, the roses were wet with dew; the deer lay under the trees in the park; there was hardly a sound to break the holy calm.
dewnounUS /duː/
water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air
From this reading The lilies gleamed like pale spectres, the roses were wet with dew; the deer lay under the trees in the park; there was hardly a sound to break the holy calm.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Queen's Chase lay in dark shadow under the starlight, the windows and doors all fastened except one, the inmates all sleeping save one.
apart from; not including
From this reading Queen's Chase lay in dark shadow under the starlight, the windows and doors all fastened except one, the inmates all sleeping save one.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading Queen's Chase lay in dark shadow under the starlight, the windows and doors all fastened except one, the inmates all sleeping save one.
fitfuladjectiveUS /ˈfɪtfəl/
occurring in spells and often abruptly
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The lilies gleamed like pale spectres, the roses were wet with dew; the deer lay under the trees in the park; there was hardly a sound to break the holy calm.
glimmered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The great clock in the turret struck ten.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
only a very short time before
From this reading The lilies gleamed like pale spectres, the roses were wet with dew; the deer lay under the trees in the park; there was hardly a sound to break the holy calm.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
a sacred place of pilgrimage
From this reading The lilies gleamed like pale spectres, the roses were wet with dew; the deer lay under the trees in the park; there was hardly a sound to break the holy calm.
HyacinthnounUS /ˈhaɪəsɪnθ/
a red transparent variety of zircon used as a gemstone
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The lilies gleamed like pale spectres, the roses were wet with dew; the deer lay under the trees in the park; there was hardly a sound to break the holy calm.
inmatesnounUS /ˈɪnmeɪts/
plural of “inmate” — one of several resident of a dwelling (especially someone confined to a prison or hospital)
From this reading Queen's Chase lay in dark shadow under the starlight, the windows and doors all fastened except one, the inmates all sleeping save one.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The lilies gleamed like pale spectres, the roses were wet with dew; the deer lay under the trees in the park; there was hardly a sound to break the holy calm.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The lilies gleamed like pale spectres, the roses were wet with dew; the deer lay under the trees in the park; there was hardly a sound to break the holy calm.
liliesnounUS /ˈlɪliz/
plural of “lily” — any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers
From this reading The lilies gleamed like pale spectres, the roses were wet with dew; the deer lay under the trees in the park; there was hardly a sound to break the holy calm.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Queen's Chase lay in dark shadow under the starlight, the windows and doors all fastened except one, the inmates all sleeping save one.
and nothing more
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property
From this reading The lilies gleamed like pale spectres, the roses were wet with dew; the deer lay under the trees in the park; there was hardly a sound to break the holy calm.
free of extraneous elements of any kind
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
Queen'snounUS /kwiːnz/
possessive form of “queen” — the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading Queen's Chase lay in dark shadow under the starlight, the windows and doors all fastened except one, the inmates all sleeping save one.
ripplingnounUS /ˈrɪpəlɪŋ/
a small wave on the surface of a liquid
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The lilies gleamed like pale spectres, the roses were wet with dew; the deer lay under the trees in the park; there was hardly a sound to break the holy calm.
except for; apart from
From this reading Queen's Chase lay in dark shadow under the starlight, the windows and doors all fastened except one, the inmates all sleeping save one.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Queen's Chase lay in dark shadow under the starlight, the windows and doors all fastened except one, the inmates all sleeping save one.
the state of being asleep
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The lilies gleamed like pale spectres, the roses were wet with dew; the deer lay under the trees in the park; there was hardly a sound to break the holy calm.
spectres
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lilies gleamed like pale spectres, the roses were wet with dew; the deer lay under the trees in the park; there was hardly a sound to break the holy calm.
starlightnounUS /ˈstɑːrlaɪt/
the light of the stars
From this reading Queen's Chase lay in dark shadow under the starlight, the windows and doors all fastened except one, the inmates all sleeping save one.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
not in physical motion
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading The great clock in the turret struck ten.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading The great clock in the turret struck ten.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The lilies gleamed like pale spectres, the roses were wet with dew; the deer lay under the trees in the park; there was hardly a sound to break the holy calm.
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 A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
turretnounUS /ˈtɜːrət/
a small tower extending above a building
From this reading The great clock in the turret struck ten.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
VaughannounUS /vɔːn/
United States jazz singer noted for her complex bebop phrasing and scat singing (1924-1990)
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The lilies gleamed like pale spectres, the roses were wet with dew; the deer lay under the trees in the park; there was hardly a sound to break the holy calm.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading The lilies gleamed like pale spectres, the roses were wet with dew; the deer lay under the trees in the park; there was hardly a sound to break the holy calm.
in or at the place that
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Queen's Chase lay in dark shadow under the starlight, the windows and doors all fastened except one, the inmates all sleeping save one.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A beautiful night--not clear with the light of the moon, but solemn and still under the pale, pure stars; there was a fitful breeze that murmured among the trees, rippling the green leaves and stirring the sleeping flowers.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Had any been watching, they would have seen a faint light in the room where Hyacinth Vaughan slept; it glimmered there only for a minute or two, and then disappeared.
