used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sylvia Whitman, walking home along the familiar village street, felt like a stranger exploring it for the first time.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It had been a peaceful little community, with every day much like the one before and after, except for the happenings of birth and death, which are the most common happenings of nature.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Sylvia Whitman, walking home along the familiar village street, felt like a stranger exploring it for the first time.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It had been a peaceful little community, with every day much like the one before and after, except for the happenings of birth and death, which are the most common happenings of nature.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It had been a peaceful little community, with every day much like the one before and after, except for the happenings of birth and death, which are the most common happenings of nature.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading No tragedy had ever been known in East Westland since she could remember.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She had never before seen it under the glare of tragedy which her own consciousness threw before her eyes.
the time when something begins (especially life)
From this reading It had been a peaceful little community, with every day much like the one before and after, except for the happenings of birth and death, which are the most common happenings of nature.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But now came death by violence, and even the wayside weeds seemed to wave in a lurid light.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But now came death by violence, and even the wayside weeds seemed to wave in a lurid light.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But now came death by violence, and even the wayside weeds seemed to wave in a lurid light.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading It had been a peaceful little community, with every day much like the one before and after, except for the happenings of birth and death, which are the most common happenings of nature.
communitynounUS /kəˈmjuːnəti/
a group of people living in a particular local area
From this reading It had been a peaceful little community, with every day much like the one before and after, except for the happenings of birth and death, which are the most common happenings of nature.
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading She had never before seen it under the glare of tragedy which her own consciousness threw before her eyes.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading No tragedy had ever been known in East Westland since she could remember.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It had been a peaceful little community, with every day much like the one before and after, except for the happenings of birth and death, which are the most common happenings of nature.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading It had been a peaceful little community, with every day much like the one before and after, except for the happenings of birth and death, which are the most common happenings of nature.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading No tragedy had ever been known in East Westland since she could remember.
divisible by two
From this reading But now came death by violence, and even the wayside weeds seemed to wave in a lurid light.
at any time
From this reading No tragedy had ever been known in East Westland since she could remember.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It had been a peaceful little community, with every day much like the one before and after, except for the happenings of birth and death, which are the most common happenings of nature.
apart from; not including
From this reading It had been a peaceful little community, with every day much like the one before and after, except for the happenings of birth and death, which are the most common happenings of nature.
exploringverbUS /ɪkˈsplɔːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “explore” — inquire into
From this reading Sylvia Whitman, walking home along the familiar village street, felt like a stranger exploring it for the first time.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She had never before seen it under the glare of tragedy which her own consciousness threw before her eyes.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading Sylvia Whitman, walking home along the familiar village street, felt like a stranger exploring it for the first time.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Sylvia Whitman, walking home along the familiar village street, felt like a stranger exploring it for the first time.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Sylvia Whitman, walking home along the familiar village street, felt like a stranger exploring it for the first time.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Sylvia Whitman, walking home along the familiar village street, felt like a stranger exploring it for the first time.
glarenounUS /ɡler/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading She had never before seen it under the glare of tragedy which her own consciousness threw before her eyes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had never before seen it under the glare of tragedy which her own consciousness threw before her eyes.
happeningsnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋz/
plural of “happening” — an event that happens
From this reading It had been a peaceful little community, with every day much like the one before and after, except for the happenings of birth and death, which are the most common happenings of nature.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had never before seen it under the glare of tragedy which her own consciousness threw before her eyes.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Sylvia Whitman, walking home along the familiar village street, felt like a stranger exploring it for the first time.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading No tragedy had ever been known in East Westland since she could remember.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Sylvia Whitman, walking home along the familiar village street, felt like a stranger exploring it for the first time.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading No tragedy had ever been known in East Westland since she could remember.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading But now came death by violence, and even the wayside weeds seemed to wave in a lurid light.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Sylvia Whitman, walking home along the familiar village street, felt like a stranger exploring it for the first time.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It had been a peaceful little community, with every day much like the one before and after, except for the happenings of birth and death, which are the most common happenings of nature.
luridadjectiveUS /ˈlʊrəd/
horrible in fierceness or savagery
From this reading But now came death by violence, and even the wayside weeds seemed to wave in a lurid light.
used to form the superlative
From this reading It had been a peaceful little community, with every day much like the one before and after, except for the happenings of birth and death, which are the most common happenings of nature.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It had been a peaceful little community, with every day much like the one before and after, except for the happenings of birth and death, which are the most common happenings of nature.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading It had been a peaceful little community, with every day much like the one before and after, except for the happenings of birth and death, which are the most common happenings of nature.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She had never before seen it under the glare of tragedy which her own consciousness threw before her eyes.
not any; not one
From this reading No tragedy had ever been known in East Westland since she could remember.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But now came death by violence, and even the wayside weeds seemed to wave in a lurid light.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had never before seen it under the glare of tragedy which her own consciousness threw before her eyes.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It had been a peaceful little community, with every day much like the one before and after, except for the happenings of birth and death, which are the most common happenings of nature.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading She had never before seen it under the glare of tragedy which her own consciousness threw before her eyes.
peacefuladjectiveUS /ˈpiːsfəl/
not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
From this reading It had been a peaceful little community, with every day much like the one before and after, except for the happenings of birth and death, which are the most common happenings of nature.
To recall to mind.
From this reading No tragedy had ever been known in East Westland since she could remember.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But now came death by violence, and even the wayside weeds seemed to wave in a lurid light.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She had never before seen it under the glare of tragedy which her own consciousness threw before her eyes.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had never before seen it under the glare of tragedy which her own consciousness threw before her eyes.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading No tragedy had ever been known in East Westland since she could remember.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading Sylvia Whitman, walking home along the familiar village street, felt like a stranger exploring it for the first time.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Sylvia Whitman, walking home along the familiar village street, felt like a stranger exploring it for the first time.
Sylvia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia Whitman, walking home along the familiar village street, felt like a stranger exploring it for the first time.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Sylvia Whitman, walking home along the familiar village street, felt like a stranger exploring it for the first time.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading She had never before seen it under the glare of tragedy which her own consciousness threw before her eyes.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Sylvia Whitman, walking home along the familiar village street, felt like a stranger exploring it for the first time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But now came death by violence, and even the wayside weeds seemed to wave in a lurid light.
tragedynounUS /ˈtrædʒədi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading She had never before seen it under the glare of tragedy which her own consciousness threw before her eyes.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She had never before seen it under the glare of tragedy which her own consciousness threw before her eyes.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading Sylvia Whitman, walking home along the familiar village street, felt like a stranger exploring it for the first time.
an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)
From this reading But now came death by violence, and even the wayside weeds seemed to wave in a lurid light.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading Sylvia Whitman, walking home along the familiar village street, felt like a stranger exploring it for the first time.
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading But now came death by violence, and even the wayside weeds seemed to wave in a lurid light.
waysidenounUS /ˈweɪsaɪd/
edge of a way or road or path
From this reading But now came death by violence, and even the wayside weeds seemed to wave in a lurid light.
weedsnounUS /wiːdz/
a black garment (dress) worn by a widow as a sign of mourning
From this reading But now came death by violence, and even the wayside weeds seemed to wave in a lurid light.
Westland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No tragedy had ever been known in East Westland since she could remember.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She had never before seen it under the glare of tragedy which her own consciousness threw before her eyes.
WhitmannounUS /ˈwɪtmən/
United States poet who celebrated the greatness of America (1819-1892)
From this reading Sylvia Whitman, walking home along the familiar village street, felt like a stranger exploring it for the first time.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It had been a peaceful little community, with every day much like the one before and after, except for the happenings of birth and death, which are the most common happenings of nature.
