used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading No gaunt shadows nor ghostly moonlight now threw a spell on the magic chamber above.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading No gaunt shadows nor ghostly moonlight now threw a spell on the magic chamber above.
surrounded by; in the company of
From this reading The instruments looked bright and business-like, and the Principal, moving amongst them, heard the subdued hum of fifty or more voices rising from below.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MAGIC GLASSES, AND HOW TO USE THEM The sun shone brightly into the science class-room at mid-day.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading MAGIC GLASSES, AND HOW TO USE THEM The sun shone brightly into the science class-room at mid-day.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading The instruments looked bright and business-like, and the Principal, moving amongst them, heard the subdued hum of fifty or more voices rising from below.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The instruments looked bright and business-like, and the Principal, moving amongst them, heard the subdued hum of fifty or more voices rising from below.
brightlyadverbUS /ˈbraɪtli/
with brightness
From this reading MAGIC GLASSES, AND HOW TO USE THEM The sun shone brightly into the science class-room at mid-day.
business-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The instruments looked bright and business-like, and the Principal, moving amongst them, heard the subdued hum of fifty or more voices rising from below.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading No gaunt shadows nor ghostly moonlight now threw a spell on the magic chamber above.
class-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAGIC GLASSES, AND HOW TO USE THEM The sun shone brightly into the science class-room at mid-day.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was the lecture hour, and the subject for the day was, "Magic glasses, and how to use them."
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading The instruments looked bright and business-like, and the Principal, moving amongst them, heard the subdued hum of fifty or more voices rising from below.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was the lecture hour, and the subject for the day was, "Magic glasses, and how to use them."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The instruments looked bright and business-like, and the Principal, moving amongst them, heard the subdued hum of fifty or more voices rising from below.
brought together in one place
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
gauntadjectiveUS /ɡɔːnt/
very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
From this reading No gaunt shadows nor ghostly moonlight now threw a spell on the magic chamber above.
ghostlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊstli/
resembling or characteristic of a phantom
From this reading No gaunt shadows nor ghostly moonlight now threw a spell on the magic chamber above.
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading MAGIC GLASSES, AND HOW TO USE THEM The sun shone brightly into the science class-room at mid-day.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The instruments looked bright and business-like, and the Principal, moving amongst them, heard the subdued hum of fifty or more voices rising from below.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It was the lecture hour, and the subject for the day was, "Magic glasses, and how to use them."
HOW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAGIC GLASSES, AND HOW TO USE THEM The sun shone brightly into the science class-room at mid-day.
humverbUS /hʌm/
sing with closed lips
From this reading The instruments looked bright and business-like, and the Principal, moving amongst them, heard the subdued hum of fifty or more voices rising from below.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
instrumentsnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənts/
plural of “instrument” — a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading The instruments looked bright and business-like, and the Principal, moving amongst them, heard the subdued hum of fifty or more voices rising from below.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading MAGIC GLASSES, AND HOW TO USE THEM The sun shone brightly into the science class-room at mid-day.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the lecture hour, and the subject for the day was, "Magic glasses, and how to use them."
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
lectureverbUS /ˈlektʃər/
deliver a lecture or talk
From this reading It was the lecture hour, and the subject for the day was, "Magic glasses, and how to use them."
lensesnounUS /ˈlenzəz/
plural of “lens” — a transparent optical device used to converge or diverge transmitted light and to form images
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The instruments looked bright and business-like, and the Principal, moving amongst them, heard the subdued hum of fifty or more voices rising from below.
any art that invokes supernatural powers
From this reading MAGIC GLASSES, AND HOW TO USE THEM The sun shone brightly into the science class-room at mid-day.
mid-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MAGIC GLASSES, AND HOW TO USE THEM The sun shone brightly into the science class-room at mid-day.
the light of the Moon
From this reading No gaunt shadows nor ghostly moonlight now threw a spell on the magic chamber above.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The instruments looked bright and business-like, and the Principal, moving amongst them, heard the subdued hum of fifty or more voices rising from below.
in motion
From this reading The instruments looked bright and business-like, and the Principal, moving amongst them, heard the subdued hum of fifty or more voices rising from below.
not any; not one
From this reading No gaunt shadows nor ghostly moonlight now threw a spell on the magic chamber above.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading No gaunt shadows nor ghostly moonlight now threw a spell on the magic chamber above.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading No gaunt shadows nor ghostly moonlight now threw a spell on the magic chamber above.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The instruments looked bright and business-like, and the Principal, moving amongst them, heard the subdued hum of fifty or more voices rising from below.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading No gaunt shadows nor ghostly moonlight now threw a spell on the magic chamber above.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The instruments looked bright and business-like, and the Principal, moving amongst them, heard the subdued hum of fifty or more voices rising from below.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading The instruments looked bright and business-like, and the Principal, moving amongst them, heard the subdued hum of fifty or more voices rising from below.
prismsnounUS /ˈprɪzəmz/
plural of “prism” — a polyhedron with two congruent and parallel faces (the bases) and whose lateral faces are parallelograms
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading The instruments looked bright and business-like, and the Principal, moving amongst them, heard the subdued hum of fifty or more voices rising from below.
a particular branch of scientific knowledge
From this reading MAGIC GLASSES, AND HOW TO USE THEM The sun shone brightly into the science class-room at mid-day.
selectedadjectiveUS /səˈlektɪd/
chosen in preference to another
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading No gaunt shadows nor ghostly moonlight now threw a spell on the magic chamber above.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading MAGIC GLASSES, AND HOW TO USE THEM The sun shone brightly into the science class-room at mid-day.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of
From this reading No gaunt shadows nor ghostly moonlight now threw a spell on the magic chamber above.
stairnounUS /ster/
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
strayverbUS /streɪ/
move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading The instruments looked bright and business-like, and the Principal, moving amongst them, heard the subdued hum of fifty or more voices rising from below.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading It was the lecture hour, and the subject for the day was, "Magic glasses, and how to use them."
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading MAGIC GLASSES, AND HOW TO USE THEM The sun shone brightly into the science class-room at mid-day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MAGIC GLASSES, AND HOW TO USE THEM The sun shone brightly into the science class-room at mid-day.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading MAGIC GLASSES, AND HOW TO USE THEM The sun shone brightly into the science class-room at mid-day.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading No gaunt shadows nor ghostly moonlight now threw a spell on the magic chamber above.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MAGIC GLASSES, AND HOW TO USE THEM The sun shone brightly into the science class-room at mid-day.
turretnounUS /ˈtɜːrət/
a small tower extending above a building
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As the large clock in the hall sounded twelve, the Principal gathered up a few stray lenses and prisms he had selected, and passed down the turret stair to his platform.
the act of using
From this reading MAGIC GLASSES, AND HOW TO USE THEM The sun shone brightly into the science class-room at mid-day.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The instruments looked bright and business-like, and the Principal, moving amongst them, heard the subdued hum of fifty or more voices rising from below.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the lecture hour, and the subject for the day was, "Magic glasses, and how to use them."
