adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
abstractionsnounUS /æbˈstrækʃənz/
plural of “abstraction” — a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
acquitverbUS /əˈkwɪt/
pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
addressedadjectiveUS /əˈdrest/
(of mail) marked with a destination
From this reading The superintendent had seemed to believe it was a great moment; there had been a tremor in his voice as he addressed the class, each in turn.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
agingnounUS /ˈeɪdʒɪŋ/
acquiring desirable qualities by being left undisturbed for some time
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The moment marked another tremendous epoch, for he was done with school.
archedadjectiveUS /ɑːrtʃt/
constructed with or in the form of an arch or arches
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The superintendent had seemed to believe it was a great moment; there had been a tremor in his voice as he addressed the class, each in turn.
battlenounUS /ˈbætəl/
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The superintendent had seemed to believe it was a great moment; there had been a tremor in his voice as he addressed the class, each in turn.
believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading The superintendent had seemed to believe it was a great moment; there had been a tremor in his voice as he addressed the class, each in turn.
bellnounUS /bel/
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
bookishadjectiveUS /ˈbʊkɪʃ/
characterized by diligent study and fondness for reading
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
breathingnounUS /ˈbriːðɪŋ/
the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
carriedverbUS /ˈkærid/
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
chalknounUS /tʃɔːk/
A soft white limestone used for marking doors, stone walls, and slate.
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
classnounUS /klæs/
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading The superintendent had seemed to believe it was a great moment; there had been a tremor in his voice as he addressed the class, each in turn.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
compelverbUS /kəmˈpel/
force somebody to do something
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
conferringverbUS /kənˈfɜːrɪŋ/
inflected form of “confer” — have a conference in order to talk something over
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
confinedadjectiveUS /kənˈfaɪnd/
not invading healthy tissue
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
Cowan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
creditnounUS /ˈkredət/
approval
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
diplomanounUS /dɪˈploʊmɑː/
a document certifying the successful completion of a course of study
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
distinguishedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading The moment marked another tremendous epoch, for he was done with school.
dustverbUS /dʌst/
remove the dust from
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The superintendent had seemed to believe it was a great moment; there had been a tremor in his voice as he addressed the class, each in turn.
epochnounUS /ˈepək/
a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
From this reading The moment marked another tremendous epoch, for he was done with school.
errantadjectiveUS /ˈerənt/
straying from the right course or from accepted standards
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
feelverbUS /fiːl/
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
fleetingadjectiveUS /ˈfliːtɪŋ/
lasting for a markedly brief time
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The moment marked another tremendous epoch, for he was done with school.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
graduatedadjectiveUS /ˈɡrædʒuːeɪtɪd/
marked with or divided into degrees
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The superintendent had seemed to believe it was a great moment; there had been a tremor in his voice as he addressed the class, each in turn.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The moment marked another tremendous epoch, for he was done with school.
hearverbUS /hiːr/
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
HighadjectiveUS /haɪ/
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
honournounUS /ˈɑːnər/
the state of being honored
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The superintendent had seemed to believe it was a great moment; there had been a tremor in his voice as he addressed the class, each in turn.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
markedadjectiveUS /mɑːrkt/
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading The moment marked another tremendous epoch, for he was done with school.
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading The moment marked another tremendous epoch, for he was done with school.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
musenounUS /mjuːz/
in ancient Greek mythology any of 9 daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne; protector of an art or science
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
neatlyadverbUS /ˈniːtli/
with neatness
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
neednounUS /niːd/
a condition requiring relief
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
Newbern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
NowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
OnceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
qualmnoun
uneasiness about the fitness of an action
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
respectablyadverbUS /riˈspektəbli/
to a tolerably worthy extent
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
rolledadjectiveUS /roʊld/
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
schoolnounUS /skuːl/
an educational institution
From this reading The moment marked another tremendous epoch, for he was done with school.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The superintendent had seemed to believe it was a great moment; there had been a tremor in his voice as he addressed the class, each in turn.
sitverbUS /sɪt/
be seated
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
soundnounUS /saʊnd/
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
splendournoun
a quality that outshines the usual
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
starsnounUS /stɑːrz/
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
stuffyadjectiveUS /ˈstʌfi/
lacking fresh air
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
superintendentnounUS /ˌsuːpərənˈtendənt/
a person who directs and manages an organization
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading The superintendent had seemed to believe it was a great moment; there had been a tremor in his voice as he addressed the class, each in turn.
thrillingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
tiedadjectiveUS /taɪd/
bound or secured closely
From this reading He had graduated from the Newbern High School, respectably if not with distinguished honour, and the superintendent had said, in conferring his rolled and neatly tied diploma, that he was facing the battle of life and must acquit himself with credit to Newbern.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
tremendousadjectiveUS /trəˈmendəs/
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading The moment marked another tremendous epoch, for he was done with school.
tremornounUS /ˈtremər/
an involuntary vibration (as if from illness or fear)
From this reading The superintendent had seemed to believe it was a great moment; there had been a tremor in his voice as he addressed the class, each in turn.
turnverbUS /tɜːrn/
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading The superintendent had seemed to believe it was a great moment; there had been a tremor in his voice as he addressed the class, each in turn.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The superintendent had seemed to believe it was a great moment; there had been a tremor in his voice as he addressed the class, each in turn.
warningnounUS /ˈwɔːrnɪŋ/
a message informing of danger
From this reading Now for all the years to come he could hear the bell sound its warning and feel no qualm; never again need sit confined in a stuffy room, breathing chalk dust, and compel his errant mind to bookish abstractions.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The moment marked another tremendous epoch, for he was done with school.
watchverbUS /wɑːtʃ/
look attentively
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
Wilbur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The moment marked another tremendous epoch, for he was done with school.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
youthnounUS /juːθ/
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading Once more the aging Wilbur Cowan stood alone by night thrillingly to watch the arched splendour of stars above and muse upon the fleeting years that carried off his youth.
