used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
archnounUS /ɑːrtʃ/
a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening
From this reading Three shadowy forms were conversing in low tones under the arch of the gateway.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Have you spoken to Elias?" asked a voice.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But he ought to be one of us.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he ought to be one of us.
a game played with playing cards
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
cemeterynounUS /ˈseməteri/
a tract of land used for burials
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
circumspectadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrkəmspekt/
heedful of potential consequences
From this reading "No, you know how reserved and circumspect he is.
cloudyadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdi/
lacking definite form or limits
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
conversingverbUS /kənˈvɜːrsɪŋ/
-ing form of “converse” — carry on a conversation
From this reading Three shadowy forms were conversing in low tones under the arch of the gateway.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
remove the dust from
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
EliasnounUS /əˈlaɪəs/
plural of “elia” — English essayist (1775-1834)
From this reading "Have you spoken to Elias?" asked a voice.
plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading Three shadowy forms were conversing in low tones under the arch of the gateway.
gatewaynounUS /ˈɡeɪtweɪ/
an entrance that can be closed by a gate
From this reading Three shadowy forms were conversing in low tones under the arch of the gateway.
Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Have you spoken to Elias?" asked a voice.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "No, you know how reserved and circumspect he is.
not accessible to view
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, you know how reserved and circumspect he is.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "No, you know how reserved and circumspect he is.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "No, you know how reserved and circumspect he is.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Three shadowy forms were conversing in low tones under the arch of the gateway.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
not any; not one
From this reading "No, you know how reserved and circumspect he is.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But he ought to be one of us.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading But he ought to be one of us.
pathwaynounUS /ˈpæθweɪ/
a bundle of myelinated nerve fibers following a path through the brain
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
precursornounUS /priˈkɜːrsər/
a substance from which another substance is formed (especially by a metabolic reaction)
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
reservedadjectiveUS /rɪˈzɜːrvd/
set aside for the use of a particular person or party
From this reading "No, you know how reserved and circumspect he is.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading Three shadowy forms were conversing in low tones under the arch of the gateway.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading "Have you spoken to Elias?" asked a voice.
possessing sweep
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Three shadowy forms were conversing in low tones under the arch of the gateway.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading Three shadowy forms were conversing in low tones under the arch of the gateway.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Three shadowy forms were conversing in low tones under the arch of the gateway.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But he ought to be one of us.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "Have you spoken to Elias?" asked a voice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Three shadowy forms were conversing in low tones under the arch of the gateway.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The Cards of the Dead and the Shadows The moon was hidden in a cloudy sky while a cold wind, precursor of the approaching December, swept the dry leaves and dust about in the narrow pathway leading to the cemetery.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Have you spoken to Elias?" asked a voice.
