used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Not a star shone from the clouded sky.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading |Yet to keep an eye upon her was more easily said than done.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Strain my eyesight as I might, I could see nothing beyond the length of my arm.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Strain my eyesight as I might, I could see nothing beyond the length of my arm.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the bottom of the terrace it was impenetrably dark.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Strain my eyesight as I might, I could see nothing beyond the length of my arm.
the chest considered as the place where secret thoughts are kept
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
the lower side of anything
From this reading At the bottom of the terrace it was impenetrably dark.
cloudedadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdɪd/
made troubled or apprehensive or distressed in appearance
From this reading Not a star shone from the clouded sky.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Strain my eyesight as I might, I could see nothing beyond the length of my arm.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading At the bottom of the terrace it was impenetrably dark.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading |Yet to keep an eye upon her was more easily said than done.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading |Yet to keep an eye upon her was more easily said than done.
the organ of sight
From this reading |Yet to keep an eye upon her was more easily said than done.
eyesightnounUS /ˈaɪsaɪt/
normal use of the faculty of vision
From this reading Strain my eyesight as I might, I could see nothing beyond the length of my arm.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Not a star shone from the clouded sky.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading |Yet to keep an eye upon her was more easily said than done.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Strain my eyesight as I might, I could see nothing beyond the length of my arm.
impenetrably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the bottom of the terrace it was impenetrably dark.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At the bottom of the terrace it was impenetrably dark.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading |Yet to keep an eye upon her was more easily said than done.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading Strain my eyesight as I might, I could see nothing beyond the length of my arm.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Strain my eyesight as I might, I could see nothing beyond the length of my arm.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading |Yet to keep an eye upon her was more easily said than done.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Strain my eyesight as I might, I could see nothing beyond the length of my arm.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a star shone from the clouded sky.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Strain my eyesight as I might, I could see nothing beyond the length of my arm.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the bottom of the terrace it was impenetrably dark.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
puncturedadjectiveUS /ˈpʌŋktʃərd/
having a hole cut through
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
relievingverbUS /rɪˈliːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “relieve” — provide physical relief, as from pain
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading |Yet to keep an eye upon her was more easily said than done.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Strain my eyesight as I might, I could see nothing beyond the length of my arm.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading Not a star shone from the clouded sky.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Not a star shone from the clouded sky.
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Not a star shone from the clouded sky.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading Strain my eyesight as I might, I could see nothing beyond the length of my arm.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
terracenounUS /ˈterəs/
usually paved outdoor area adjoining a residence
From this reading At the bottom of the terrace it was impenetrably dark.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading |Yet to keep an eye upon her was more easily said than done.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the bottom of the terrace it was impenetrably dark.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading |Yet to keep an eye upon her was more easily said than done.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading |Yet to keep an eye upon her was more easily said than done.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading |Yet to keep an eye upon her was more easily said than done.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The points of light along the opposite shore--and here and there, upon the bosom of the stream, the red or green lantern of a vessel--punctured the darkness without relieving it.
but in spite of that
From this reading |Yet to keep an eye upon her was more easily said than done.
