used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading DISASTER A smoke-coloured band, curious, and like a thin curved cloud, cut the grey background of sky to eastward.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading There was something sinister in these apparitions so strange to the eye, so perplexing to the mind, so dismal in colour against the dismal grey of the sky.
in addition
From this reading Far away to the northeast, another band of smoke, grey and also in motion, caught his eye.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading DISASTER A smoke-coloured band, curious, and like a thin curved cloud, cut the grey background of sky to eastward.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Far away to the northeast, another band of smoke, grey and also in motion, caught his eye.
apparitionsnounUS /ˌæpərˈɪʃənz/
plural of “apparition” — a ghostly appearing figure
From this reading There was something sinister in these apparitions so strange to the eye, so perplexing to the mind, so dismal in colour against the dismal grey of the sky.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Even as he looked it changed subtly in shape till now it became a comet of smoke, head pointing to the island.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Far away to the northeast, another band of smoke, grey and also in motion, caught his eye.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading DISASTER A smoke-coloured band, curious, and like a thin curved cloud, cut the grey background of sky to eastward.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading DISASTER A smoke-coloured band, curious, and like a thin curved cloud, cut the grey background of sky to eastward.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Even as he looked it changed subtly in shape till now it became a comet of smoke, head pointing to the island.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Far away to the northeast, another band of smoke, grey and also in motion, caught his eye.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading Even as he looked it changed subtly in shape till now it became a comet of smoke, head pointing to the island.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading DISASTER A smoke-coloured band, curious, and like a thin curved cloud, cut the grey background of sky to eastward.
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading There was something sinister in these apparitions so strange to the eye, so perplexing to the mind, so dismal in colour against the dismal grey of the sky.
cometnounUS /ˈkɑːmət/
(astronomy) a relatively small extraterrestrial body consisting of a frozen mass that travels around the sun in a highly elliptical orbit
From this reading Even as he looked it changed subtly in shape till now it became a comet of smoke, head pointing to the island.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading DISASTER A smoke-coloured band, curious, and like a thin curved cloud, cut the grey background of sky to eastward.
curvedadjectiveUS /kɜːrvd/
having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend
From this reading DISASTER A smoke-coloured band, curious, and like a thin curved cloud, cut the grey background of sky to eastward.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading DISASTER A smoke-coloured band, curious, and like a thin curved cloud, cut the grey background of sky to eastward.
DISASTERnounUS /dɪˈzæstər/
a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
From this reading DISASTER A smoke-coloured band, curious, and like a thin curved cloud, cut the grey background of sky to eastward.
dismaladjectiveUS /ˈdɪzməl/
causing dejection
From this reading There was something sinister in these apparitions so strange to the eye, so perplexing to the mind, so dismal in colour against the dismal grey of the sky.
eastwardadjectiveUS /ˈiːstwərd/
moving toward the east
From this reading DISASTER A smoke-coloured band, curious, and like a thin curved cloud, cut the grey background of sky to eastward.
divisible by two
From this reading Even as he looked it changed subtly in shape till now it became a comet of smoke, head pointing to the island.
the organ of sight
From this reading Far away to the northeast, another band of smoke, grey and also in motion, caught his eye.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Far away to the northeast, another band of smoke, grey and also in motion, caught his eye.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading DISASTER A smoke-coloured band, curious, and like a thin curved cloud, cut the grey background of sky to eastward.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Even as he looked it changed subtly in shape till now it became a comet of smoke, head pointing to the island.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Even as he looked it changed subtly in shape till now it became a comet of smoke, head pointing to the island.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Far away to the northeast, another band of smoke, grey and also in motion, caught his eye.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was in motion.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Even as he looked it changed subtly in shape till now it became a comet of smoke, head pointing to the island.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was in motion.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading DISASTER A smoke-coloured band, curious, and like a thin curved cloud, cut the grey background of sky to eastward.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Even as he looked it changed subtly in shape till now it became a comet of smoke, head pointing to the island.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading There was something sinister in these apparitions so strange to the eye, so perplexing to the mind, so dismal in colour against the dismal grey of the sky.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading It was in motion.
northeastnounUS /ˌnɔːrˈθiːst/
the compass point midway between north and east; at 45 degrees
From this reading Far away to the northeast, another band of smoke, grey and also in motion, caught his eye.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Even as he looked it changed subtly in shape till now it became a comet of smoke, head pointing to the island.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading DISASTER A smoke-coloured band, curious, and like a thin curved cloud, cut the grey background of sky to eastward.
perplexingadjectiveUS /pərˈpleksɪŋ/
lacking clarity of meaning; causing confusion or perplexity
From this reading There was something sinister in these apparitions so strange to the eye, so perplexing to the mind, so dismal in colour against the dismal grey of the sky.
-ing form of “point” — indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
From this reading Even as he looked it changed subtly in shape till now it became a comet of smoke, head pointing to the island.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading Even as he looked it changed subtly in shape till now it became a comet of smoke, head pointing to the island.
sinisteradjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪstər/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading There was something sinister in these apparitions so strange to the eye, so perplexing to the mind, so dismal in colour against the dismal grey of the sky.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading DISASTER A smoke-coloured band, curious, and like a thin curved cloud, cut the grey background of sky to eastward.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Even as he looked it changed subtly in shape till now it became a comet of smoke, head pointing to the island.
smoke-coloured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DISASTER A smoke-coloured band, curious, and like a thin curved cloud, cut the grey background of sky to eastward.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There was something sinister in these apparitions so strange to the eye, so perplexing to the mind, so dismal in colour against the dismal grey of the sky.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There was something sinister in these apparitions so strange to the eye, so perplexing to the mind, so dismal in colour against the dismal grey of the sky.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading There was something sinister in these apparitions so strange to the eye, so perplexing to the mind, so dismal in colour against the dismal grey of the sky.
subtlyadverbUS /ˈsʌtəli/
in a subtle manner
From this reading Even as he looked it changed subtly in shape till now it became a comet of smoke, head pointing to the island.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DISASTER A smoke-coloured band, curious, and like a thin curved cloud, cut the grey background of sky to eastward.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was something sinister in these apparitions so strange to the eye, so perplexing to the mind, so dismal in colour against the dismal grey of the sky.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading There was something sinister in these apparitions so strange to the eye, so perplexing to the mind, so dismal in colour against the dismal grey of the sky.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading DISASTER A smoke-coloured band, curious, and like a thin curved cloud, cut the grey background of sky to eastward.
up to a particular time
From this reading Even as he looked it changed subtly in shape till now it became a comet of smoke, head pointing to the island.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading DISASTER A smoke-coloured band, curious, and like a thin curved cloud, cut the grey background of sky to eastward.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was in motion.
