afterglownounUS /ˈæftərɡloʊ/
a glow sometimes seen in the sky after sunset
From this reading THE FIRST CHECK The afterglow of sunset slowly faded out of the western sky.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading And the hush of the night was over all.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And the hush of the night was over all.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
beetlesnounUS /ˈbiːtəlz/
plural of “beetle” — insect having biting mouthparts and front wings modified to form horny covers overlying the membranous rear wings
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
buzzverbUS /bʌz/
make a buzzing sound
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
camp-fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor does the smoldering camp-fire lessen the loneliness.
CHECKverbUS /tʃek/
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading THE FIRST CHECK The afterglow of sunset slowly faded out of the western sky.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nor does the smoldering camp-fire lessen the loneliness.
enhancedadjectiveUS /enˈhænst/
increased or intensified in value or beauty or quality
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading THE FIRST CHECK The afterglow of sunset slowly faded out of the western sky.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST CHECK The afterglow of sunset slowly faded out of the western sky.
frogsnounUS /frɑːɡz/
plural of “frog” — any of various tailless stout-bodied amphibians with long hind limbs for leaping; semiaquatic and terrestrial species
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
grasshoppersnounUS /ˈɡræshɑːpərz/
plural of “grasshopper” — terrestrial plant-eating insect with hind legs adapted for leaping
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
humverbUS /hʌm/
sing with closed lips
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
become quiet or still; fall silent
From this reading And the hush of the night was over all.
insectnounUS /ˈɪnsekt/
small air-breathing arthropod
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
intensifyverbUS /ɪnˈtensəfaɪ/
increase in extent or intensity
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
lessenverbUS /ˈlesən/
decrease in size, extent, or range
From this reading Nor does the smoldering camp-fire lessen the loneliness.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
lonelinessnounUS /ˈloʊnlinəs/
the state of being alone in solitary isolation
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
magnitudenounUS /ˈmæɡnətuːd/
the property of relative size or extent (whether large or small)
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
mosquitonounUS /məˈskiːtoʊ/
two-winged insect whose female has a long proboscis to pierce the skin and suck the blood of humans and animals
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading And the hush of the night was over all.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Nor does the smoldering camp-fire lessen the loneliness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FIRST CHECK The afterglow of sunset slowly faded out of the western sky.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE FIRST CHECK The afterglow of sunset slowly faded out of the western sky.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading And the hush of the night was over all.
go across or through
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
on the contrary
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
reducedadjectiveUS /rəˈduːst/
made less in size or amount or degree
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading THE FIRST CHECK The afterglow of sunset slowly faded out of the western sky.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading THE FIRST CHECK The afterglow of sunset slowly faded out of the western sky.
smolderingadjectiveUS /ˈsmoʊldərɪŋ/
showing scarcely suppressed anger
From this reading Nor does the smoldering camp-fire lessen the loneliness.
a state of social isolation
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
spasmodicadjectiveUS /spæzˈmɔːdɪk/
affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions; resembling a spasm
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
make steady
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading THE FIRST CHECK The afterglow of sunset slowly faded out of the western sky.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST CHECK The afterglow of sunset slowly faded out of the western sky.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
tickingnounUS /ˈtɪkɪŋ/
a metallic tapping sound
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And the hush of the night was over all.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading THE FIRST CHECK The afterglow of sunset slowly faded out of the western sky.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
belonging to which person
From this reading The feeling of an awful solitude, which comes to those whose business is to pass the night on the open prairie, is enhanced rather than reduced by the buzz of insect life upon the night air.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading The steady hum of the mosquito--the night song of the grasshoppers and frogs--the ticking, spasmodic call of the invisible beetles--all these things help to intensify the loneliness and magnitude of the wild surroundings.
