used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
ablazeadjectiveUS /əˈbleɪz/
keenly excited (especially sexually) or indicating excitement
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
(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 All was quiet by this time.
alternatelyadverbUS /ˈɔːltərnətli/
in an alternating sequence or position
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
ascendsverbUS /əˈsendz/
third-person singular of “ascend” — travel up
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
in a state of sleep
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
the two together, not just one
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
a youthful male person
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
clippedadjectiveUS /klɪpt/
cut or trimmed by clipping
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
gotten under control
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
donkeynounUS /ˈdɑːŋki/
the symbol of the Democratic Party; introduced in cartoons by Thomas Nast in 1874
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
eagernessnounUS /ˈiːɡərnəs/
a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
EgyptiannounUS /ɪˈdʒɪpʃən/
a native or inhabitant of Egypt
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
encampmentnounUS /ɪnˈkæmpmɪnt/
a site where people on holiday can pitch a tent
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
errandnounUS /ˈerənd/
a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
extinguishingnounUS /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃɪŋ/
the act of extinguishing; causing to stop burning
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
Gordon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
handbagnounUS /ˈhændbæɡ/
a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
HelenanounUS /ˈhelənə/
capital of the state of Montana; located in western Montana
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
kissingnounUS /ˈkɪsɪŋ/
affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
immediately past
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
the literary culture
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
moannounUS /moʊn/
an utterance expressing pain or disapproval
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
polenounUS /poʊl/
a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading All was quiet by this time.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
skirtnounUS /skɜːrt/
cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
somnambulent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading All was quiet by this time.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading All was quiet by this time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
wailingnounUS /ˈweɪlɪŋ/
loud cries made while weeping
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
showing sorrow
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
at the time that
From this reading The weeping and wailing had at last come to an end, and from the vast encampment there rose nothing but the deep, somnambulent moan that ascends from a great city when it is falling asleep.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then Helena picked up a little locked handbag which contained Gordon’s precious letters, added her own letter to them, and after extinguishing the lamp that hung from the pole, stepped out of the tent.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading A few minutes later, mounted on a donkey that was led by a boy, a woman, looking like an Egyptian with her black skirt drawn over the back of her head and closely clipped under her nose, was picking her way through the darkness.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes, yes," said the boy, now ablaze with eagerness, and kissing both her hands alternately, he shot out on his errand.
