used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A little silence fell.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I’m so glad for Mrs. Gordon,” I said, remembering the tall commander and his gentle, pretty wife.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was so quiet that we could hear the organ and choir commencing vespers at the cathedral.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
confined by bonds
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
cathedralnounUS /kəˈθiːdrəl/
any large and important church
From this reading It was so quiet that we could hear the organ and choir commencing vespers at the cathedral.
choirnounUS /ˈkwaɪər/
a chorus that sings as part of a religious ceremony
From this reading It was so quiet that we could hear the organ and choir commencing vespers at the cathedral.
chrysanthemumsnounUS /krɪˈsænθəməmz/
plural of “chrysanthemum” — the flower of a chrysanthemum plant
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
an officer in command of a military unit
From this reading “I’m so glad for Mrs. Gordon,” I said, remembering the tall commander and his gentle, pretty wife.
commencingverbUS /kəˈmensɪŋ/
-ing form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It was so quiet that we could hear the organ and choir commencing vespers at the cathedral.
commentnounUS /ˈkɑːment/
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading * * * * * My friend made no comment.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was so quiet that we could hear the organ and choir commencing vespers at the cathedral.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading A little silence fell.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I’m so glad for Mrs. Gordon,” I said, remembering the tall commander and his gentle, pretty wife.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading * * * * * My friend made no comment.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading “I’m so glad for Mrs. Gordon,” I said, remembering the tall commander and his gentle, pretty wife.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading “I’m so glad for Mrs. Gordon,” I said, remembering the tall commander and his gentle, pretty wife.
Gordon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m so glad for Mrs. Gordon,” I said, remembering the tall commander and his gentle, pretty wife.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading It was so quiet that we could hear the organ and choir commencing vespers at the cathedral.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “I’m so glad for Mrs. Gordon,” I said, remembering the tall commander and his gentle, pretty wife.
homewardadverbUS /ˈhoʊmwərd/
toward home
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I’m so glad for Mrs. Gordon,” I said, remembering the tall commander and his gentle, pretty wife.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m so glad for Mrs. Gordon,” I said, remembering the tall commander and his gentle, pretty wife.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was so quiet that we could hear the organ and choir commencing vespers at the cathedral.
lingeredverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡərd/
past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little silence fell.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading * * * * * My friend made no comment.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading “I’m so glad for Mrs. Gordon,” I said, remembering the tall commander and his gentle, pretty wife.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading * * * * * My friend made no comment.
not any; not one
From this reading * * * * * My friend made no comment.
oaksnounUS /oʊks/
plural of “oak” — the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
organnounUS /ˈɔːrɡən/
a fully differentiated structural and functional unit in an animal that is specialized for some particular function
From this reading It was so quiet that we could hear the organ and choir commencing vespers at the cathedral.
peacefuladjectiveUS /ˈpiːsfəl/
not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading “I’m so glad for Mrs. Gordon,” I said, remembering the tall commander and his gentle, pretty wife.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading It was so quiet that we could hear the organ and choir commencing vespers at the cathedral.
rememberingnounUS /rɪˈmembərɪŋ/
the cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered
From this reading “I’m so glad for Mrs. Gordon,” I said, remembering the tall commander and his gentle, pretty wife.
rooksnounUS /rʊks/
plural of “rook” — (chess) the piece that can move any number of unoccupied squares in a direction parallel to the sides of the chessboard
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I’m so glad for Mrs. Gordon,” I said, remembering the tall commander and his gentle, pretty wife.
scentnounUS /sɛnt/
A distinctive smell or aroma.
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading A little silence fell.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “I’m so glad for Mrs. Gordon,” I said, remembering the tall commander and his gentle, pretty wife.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
not in physical motion
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading “I’m so glad for Mrs. Gordon,” I said, remembering the tall commander and his gentle, pretty wife.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was so quiet that we could hear the organ and choir commencing vespers at the cathedral.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I’m so glad for Mrs. Gordon,” I said, remembering the tall commander and his gentle, pretty wife.
tonicadjectiveUS /ˈtɑːnɪk/
of or relating to or producing normal tone or tonus in muscles or tissue
From this reading Across the peaceful old garden some rooks, homeward bound, called from the oaks; the bitter tonic scent of chrysanthemums and box lingered in the still air.
vespersnoun
the sixth of the seven canonical hours of the divine office; early evening; now often made a public service on Sundays
From this reading It was so quiet that we could hear the organ and choir commencing vespers at the cathedral.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was so quiet that we could hear the organ and choir commencing vespers at the cathedral.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It was so quiet that we could hear the organ and choir commencing vespers at the cathedral.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading “I’m so glad for Mrs. Gordon,” I said, remembering the tall commander and his gentle, pretty wife.
