used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading So bright they could be seen through the cloudmasses covering a large part of Europe.
age-oldadjective
belonging to or lasting from times long ago
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
(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 The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading So bright they could be seen through the cloudmasses covering a large part of Europe.
beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/
plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing
From this reading Possibly the only human beings left in the Universe were those on the Moon.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
blossomingnounUS /ˈblɑːsəmɪŋ/
the time and process of budding and unfolding of blossoms
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading So bright they could be seen through the cloudmasses covering a large part of Europe.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
cloudmasses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So bright they could be seen through the cloudmasses covering a large part of Europe.
without stop or interruption
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
controversynounUS /ˈkɑːntrəvɜːrsi/
a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading So bright they could be seen through the cloudmasses covering a large part of Europe.
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading So bright they could be seen through the cloudmasses covering a large part of Europe.
craternounUS /ˈkreɪtər/
a bowl-shaped geological formation at the top of a volcano
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
causing or capable of causing death
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
domenounUS /doʊm/
a concave shape whose distinguishing characteristic is that the concavity faces downward
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading _Earth was dying.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading _Earth was dying.
Eratosthenesnoun
Greek mathematician and astronomer who estimated the circumference of the earth and the distances to the Moon and sun (276-194 BC)
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use “Europe” to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles
From this reading So bright they could be seen through the cloudmasses covering a large part of Europe.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
FirefliesnounUS /ˈfaɪərflaɪz/
plural of “firefly” — tropical American click beetle having bright luminous spots
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Possibly the only human beings left in the Universe were those on the Moon.
the quality of being humane
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
ideologiesnounUS /ˌaɪdiˈɑːlədʒiz/
plural of “ideology” — an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group or nation
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Possibly the only human beings left in the Universe were those on the Moon.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading So bright they could be seen through the cloudmasses covering a large part of Europe.
immediately past
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Possibly the only human beings left in the Universe were those on the Moon.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
meadownounUS /ˈmedoʊ/
a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
the force of workers available
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading Possibly the only human beings left in the Universe were those on the Moon.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Possibly the only human beings left in the Universe were those on the Moon.
on one occasion
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
and nothing more
From this reading Possibly the only human beings left in the Universe were those on the Moon.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
outpostnounUS /ˈaʊtpoʊst/
a station in a remote or sparsely populated location
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
outwardsadverbUS /ˈaʊtwərdz/
toward the outside
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading So bright they could be seen through the cloudmasses covering a large part of Europe.
pin-points
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
by chance
From this reading Possibly the only human beings left in the Universe were those on the Moon.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
any competition
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading So bright they could be seen through the cloudmasses covering a large part of Europe.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So bright they could be seen through the cloudmasses covering a large part of Europe.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
stunnedadjectiveUS /stʌnd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Possibly the only human beings left in the Universe were those on the Moon.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So bright they could be seen through the cloudmasses covering a large part of Europe.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Possibly the only human beings left in the Universe were those on the Moon.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
UniversenounUS /ˈjuːnəvɜːrs/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Possibly the only human beings left in the Universe were those on the Moon.
unleashverbUS /ənˈliːʃ/
release or vent
From this reading On this last outpost of humanity, the age-old controversy between ideologies continued to tear the human race apart, as each group prepared to unleash the deadly ..._ Fireflies on the dark meadow of Earth....
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Earth was dying.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Possibly the only human beings left in the Universe were those on the Moon.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The men and women looking up through the dome in the center of the crater of Eratosthenes were too stunned to cry out, and some did not understand all at once the meaning of those pin-points on the shadowy face of the new Earth, the lights blossoming outwards, then dying.
