used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AT THE WINDOW ‘And a boy leans over a lighted window-sill, ... his head on his arm.
Alford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ――_John Alford._ There was no moon, and the last faint glimmer of a prolonged twilight concealed more than it revealed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AT THE WINDOW ‘And a boy leans over a lighted window-sill, ... his head on his arm.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading AT THE WINDOW ‘And a boy leans over a lighted window-sill, ... his head on his arm.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading Presently from that darkness there arose two unearthly screams――blood-chilling, horrible:――then silence, sinister and profound.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT THE WINDOW ‘And a boy leans over a lighted window-sill, ... his head on his arm.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
blood-chilling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently from that darkness there arose two unearthly screams――blood-chilling, horrible:――then silence, sinister and profound.
a youthful male person
From this reading AT THE WINDOW ‘And a boy leans over a lighted window-sill, ... his head on his arm.
catsnounUS /kæts/
plural of “cat” — feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
not accessible to view
From this reading ――_John Alford._ There was no moon, and the last faint glimmer of a prolonged twilight concealed more than it revealed.
placed crosswise
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
deedsnounUS /diːdz/
performance of moral or religious acts
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
divulgedverbUS /dɪˈvʌldʒd/
past form of “divulge” — make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading ――_John Alford._ There was no moon, and the last faint glimmer of a prolonged twilight concealed more than it revealed.
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading Like a white moth his thought flies into the night.’
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
ghostsnounUS /ɡoʊsts/
plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
glidedverbUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪd/
past form of “glide” — move smoothly and effortlessly
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
glimmernounUS /ˈɡlɪmər/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading ――_John Alford._ There was no moon, and the last faint glimmer of a prolonged twilight concealed more than it revealed.
guiltilyadverb
in the manner of someone who has committed an offense
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading AT THE WINDOW ‘And a boy leans over a lighted window-sill, ... his head on his arm.
hiding-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading AT THE WINDOW ‘And a boy leans over a lighted window-sill, ... his head on his arm.
provoking horror
From this reading Presently from that darkness there arose two unearthly screams――blood-chilling, horrible:――then silence, sinister and profound.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Like a white moth his thought flies into the night.’
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ――_John Alford._ There was no moon, and the last faint glimmer of a prolonged twilight concealed more than it revealed.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading ――_John Alford._ There was no moon, and the last faint glimmer of a prolonged twilight concealed more than it revealed.
immediately past
From this reading ――_John Alford._ There was no moon, and the last faint glimmer of a prolonged twilight concealed more than it revealed.
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
leansnounUS /liːnz/
plural of “lean” — the property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the vertical
From this reading AT THE WINDOW ‘And a boy leans over a lighted window-sill, ... his head on his arm.
set afire or burning
From this reading AT THE WINDOW ‘And a boy leans over a lighted window-sill, ... his head on his arm.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Like a white moth his thought flies into the night.’
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading ――_John Alford._ There was no moon, and the last faint glimmer of a prolonged twilight concealed more than it revealed.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading ――_John Alford._ There was no moon, and the last faint glimmer of a prolonged twilight concealed more than it revealed.
mothnounUS /mɔːθ/
typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae
From this reading Like a white moth his thought flies into the night.’
in motion
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Like a white moth his thought flies into the night.’
not any; not one
From this reading ――_John Alford._ There was no moon, and the last faint glimmer of a prolonged twilight concealed more than it revealed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ――_John Alford._ There was no moon, and the last faint glimmer of a prolonged twilight concealed more than it revealed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading AT THE WINDOW ‘And a boy leans over a lighted window-sill, ... his head on his arm.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading AT THE WINDOW ‘And a boy leans over a lighted window-sill, ... his head on his arm.
PanverbUS /pæn/
make a sweeping movement
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
pausingverbUS /ˈpɔːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
in the near future
From this reading Presently from that darkness there arose two unearthly screams――blood-chilling, horrible:――then silence, sinister and profound.
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
From this reading Presently from that darkness there arose two unearthly screams――blood-chilling, horrible:――then silence, sinister and profound.
prolongedadjectiveUS /prəˈlɔːŋd/
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading ――_John Alford._ There was no moon, and the last faint glimmer of a prolonged twilight concealed more than it revealed.
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading ――_John Alford._ There was no moon, and the last faint glimmer of a prolonged twilight concealed more than it revealed.
screamsnounUS /skriːmz/
plural of “scream” — sharp piercing cry
From this reading Presently from that darkness there arose two unearthly screams――blood-chilling, horrible:――then silence, sinister and profound.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
the act of searching for something
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Presently from that darkness there arose two unearthly screams――blood-chilling, horrible:――then silence, sinister and profound.
sinisteradjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪstər/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading Presently from that darkness there arose two unearthly screams――blood-chilling, horrible:――then silence, sinister and profound.
stableadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪbəl/
resistant to change of position or condition
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
stealthilyadverb
in a stealthy manner
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
Syrinxnoun
a primitive wind instrument consisting of several parallel pipes bound together
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading ――_John Alford._ There was no moon, and the last faint glimmer of a prolonged twilight concealed more than it revealed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT THE WINDOW ‘And a boy leans over a lighted window-sill, ... his head on his arm.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Presently from that darkness there arose two unearthly screams――blood-chilling, horrible:――then silence, sinister and profound.
in or at that place or location
From this reading ――_John Alford._ There was no moon, and the last faint glimmer of a prolonged twilight concealed more than it revealed.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Like a white moth his thought flies into the night.’
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading ――_John Alford._ There was no moon, and the last faint glimmer of a prolonged twilight concealed more than it revealed.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
unearthlyadjectiveUS /əˈnɜːrθli/
concerned with or affecting the spirit or soul
From this reading Presently from that darkness there arose two unearthly screams――blood-chilling, horrible:――then silence, sinister and profound.
vanishingnounUS /ˈvænɪʃɪŋ/
a sudden or mysterious disappearance
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ――_John Alford._ There was no moon, and the last faint glimmer of a prolonged twilight concealed more than it revealed.
a Caucasian
From this reading Like a white moth his thought flies into the night.’
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading AT THE WINDOW ‘And a boy leans over a lighted window-sill, ... his head on his arm.
window-sill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT THE WINDOW ‘And a boy leans over a lighted window-sill, ... his head on his arm.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Pan and Syrinx, the two stable cats, glided like ghosts from their hiding-place, pausing guiltily, every yard or two, as they crossed the lawn, bent on secret deeds that would never be divulged, seeking the shadows and moving forward stealthily, vanishing at last into the darkness.
