used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SUN-DANCE The pale moon shone down upon a strange scene.
accuracynounUS /ˈækjərəsi/
the quality of being near to the true value
From this reading And these were set with consummate accuracy at the cardinal points.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And these were set with consummate accuracy at the cardinal points.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And these were set with consummate accuracy at the cardinal points.
boundarynounUS /ˈbaʊn.də.ri/
A line that marks the limits of an area.
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
(Roman Catholic Church) one of a group of more than 100 prominent bishops in the Sacred College who advise the Pope and elect new Popes
From this reading And these were set with consummate accuracy at the cardinal points.
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading Four great fires marked the limits of a wide clearing.
concoursenounUS /ˈkɑːnkɔːrs/
a large gathering of people
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
consummateverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəmət/
fulfill sexually
From this reading And these were set with consummate accuracy at the cardinal points.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading Superstition demanded this setting.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE SUN-DANCE The pale moon shone down upon a strange scene.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
firesnounUS /ˈfaɪərz/
plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)
From this reading Four great fires marked the limits of a wide clearing.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Four great fires marked the limits of a wide clearing.
brought together in one place
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Four great fires marked the limits of a wide clearing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
limitsnounUS /ˈlɪməts/
plural of “limit” — the greatest possible degree of something
From this reading Four great fires marked the limits of a wide clearing.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading Four great fires marked the limits of a wide clearing.
the force of workers available
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading THE SUN-DANCE The pale moon shone down upon a strange scene.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Four great fires marked the limits of a wide clearing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading THE SUN-DANCE The pale moon shone down upon a strange scene.
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading And these were set with consummate accuracy at the cardinal points.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
ruddyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌdi/
inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading THE SUN-DANCE The pale moon shone down upon a strange scene.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading And these were set with consummate accuracy at the cardinal points.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading Superstition demanded this setting.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading THE SUN-DANCE The pale moon shone down upon a strange scene.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading THE SUN-DANCE The pale moon shone down upon a strange scene.
SUN-DANCE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SUN-DANCE The pale moon shone down upon a strange scene.
SuperstitionnounUS /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃən/
an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear
From this reading Superstition demanded this setting.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SUN-DANCE The pale moon shone down upon a strange scene.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading And these were set with consummate accuracy at the cardinal points.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Superstition demanded this setting.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
unkemptadjectiveUS /ənˈkempt/
not neatly combed
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE SUN-DANCE The pale moon shone down upon a strange scene.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And these were set with consummate accuracy at the cardinal points.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Four great fires marked the limits of a wide clearing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And these were set with consummate accuracy at the cardinal points.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The ruddy glow threw into uncertain relief the faces and unkempt figures of a vast concourse of men and women gathered, in one great circle, within the boundary limits of the fires.
