used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
(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 His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
aloftadverbUS /əˈlɔːft/
at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading ON THE AVENTINE When Tristan at last regained his bearings, he found himself among the convents and cloisters on Mount Aventine.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ON THE AVENTINE When Tristan at last regained his bearings, he found himself among the convents and cloisters on Mount Aventine.
Angelo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
ArchangelnounUS /ˌɑːrˈkeɪndʒəl/
an angel ranked above the highest rank in the celestial hierarchy
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading ON THE AVENTINE When Tristan at last regained his bearings, he found himself among the convents and cloisters on Mount Aventine.
AVENTINE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE AVENTINE When Tristan at last regained his bearings, he found himself among the convents and cloisters on Mount Aventine.
installation from which a military force initiates operations
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
bearingsnounUS /ˈberɪŋz/
plural of “bearing” — relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading ON THE AVENTINE When Tristan at last regained his bearings, he found himself among the convents and cloisters on Mount Aventine.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Then the glow faded before a dead grey twilight, which settled solemnly over the melancholy landscape.
bronzenounUS /brɑːnz/
an alloy of copper and tin and sometimes other elements; also any copper-base alloy containing other elements in place of tin
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
Castel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
cloistersnounUS /ˈklɔɪstərz/
plural of “cloister” — residence that is a place of religious seclusion (such as a monastery)
From this reading ON THE AVENTINE When Tristan at last regained his bearings, he found himself among the convents and cloisters on Mount Aventine.
coilsnounUS /kɔɪlz/
plural of “coil” — a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
conventsnounUS /ˈkɑːnvənts/
plural of “convent” — a religious residence especially for nuns
From this reading ON THE AVENTINE When Tristan at last regained his bearings, he found himself among the convents and cloisters on Mount Aventine.
crumblingverbUS /ˈkrʌmbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “crumble” — fall apart
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Then the glow faded before a dead grey twilight, which settled solemnly over the melancholy landscape.
well in the past; former
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
disappearingnounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrɪŋ/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
eddying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading Then the glow faded before a dead grey twilight, which settled solemnly over the melancholy landscape.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
set up or found
From this reading ON THE AVENTINE When Tristan at last regained his bearings, he found himself among the convents and cloisters on Mount Aventine.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The full moon was rising slowly.
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading Then the glow faded before a dead grey twilight, which settled solemnly over the melancholy landscape.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading Then the glow faded before a dead grey twilight, which settled solemnly over the melancholy landscape.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ON THE AVENTINE When Tristan at last regained his bearings, he found himself among the convents and cloisters on Mount Aventine.
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading ON THE AVENTINE When Tristan at last regained his bearings, he found himself among the convents and cloisters on Mount Aventine.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ON THE AVENTINE When Tristan at last regained his bearings, he found himself among the convents and cloisters on Mount Aventine.
imbuing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
and nothing more
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
landscapenounUS /ˈlændskeɪp/
an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
From this reading Then the glow faded before a dead grey twilight, which settled solemnly over the melancholy landscape.
immediately past
From this reading ON THE AVENTINE When Tristan at last regained his bearings, he found himself among the convents and cloisters on Mount Aventine.
set afire or burning
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading Then the glow faded before a dead grey twilight, which settled solemnly over the melancholy landscape.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The full moon was rising slowly.
attach to a support
From this reading ON THE AVENTINE When Tristan at last regained his bearings, he found himself among the convents and cloisters on Mount Aventine.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE AVENTINE When Tristan at last regained his bearings, he found himself among the convents and cloisters on Mount Aventine.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Then the glow faded before a dead grey twilight, which settled solemnly over the melancholy landscape.
porticoes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
regainedverbUS /riˈɡeɪnd/
past form of “regain” — get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading ON THE AVENTINE When Tristan at last regained his bearings, he found himself among the convents and cloisters on Mount Aventine.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading The full moon was rising slowly.
roamedverbUS /roʊmd/
past form of “roam” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
ruinsnounUS /ˈruːənz/
plural of “ruin” — an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading Then the glow faded before a dead grey twilight, which settled solemnly over the melancholy landscape.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The full moon was rising slowly.
solemnlyadverbUS /ˈsɔːləmli/
in a grave and sedate manner
From this reading Then the glow faded before a dead grey twilight, which settled solemnly over the melancholy landscape.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
summitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
templesnounUS /ˈtempəlz/
plural of “temple” — place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE AVENTINE When Tristan at last regained his bearings, he found himself among the convents and cloisters on Mount Aventine.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
thenceadverbUS /ðens/
from that place or that time
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
TibernounUS /ˈtaɪbər/
a river of central Italy; flows through Rome to the Tyrrhenian Sea
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
torchnounUS /tɔːrtʃ/
a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
having come into contact
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
TristannounUS /ˈtrɪstæn/
(Middle Ages) the nephew of the king of Cornwall who (according to legend) fell in love with his uncle's bride (Iseult) after they mistakenly drank a love potion that left them eternally in love with each other
From this reading ON THE AVENTINE When Tristan at last regained his bearings, he found himself among the convents and cloisters on Mount Aventine.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading Then the glow faded before a dead grey twilight, which settled solemnly over the melancholy landscape.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The full moon was rising slowly.
watchmannounUS /ˈwɑːtʃmən/
a guard who keeps watch
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
wavingnounUS /ˈweɪvɪŋ/
the act of signaling by a movement of the hand
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
wearilyadverbUS /ˈwerəli/
in a weary manner
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
weed-grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
weirdadjectiveUS /wɪrd/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
at the time that
From this reading ON THE AVENTINE When Tristan at last regained his bearings, he found himself among the convents and cloisters on Mount Aventine.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Just then a last gleam of the disappearing sun touched the bronze figure of the Archangel on the summit of Castel San Angelo, imbuing it for an instant with a weird effect, as though the ghost of some departed watchman were waving a lighted torch aloft in the heavens.
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading His eyes rested wearily on the eddying gleam of the Tiber as it wound its coils round the base of the Mount of Cloisters, thence they roamed among the grass and weed-grown ruins of ancient temples and crumbling porticoes, which rose on all sides in the silent desolation.
