used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading And how the night air hideous grows With shrieks!”
(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 solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And how the night air hideous grows With shrieks!”
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading The solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
make calm or still
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
cathedralnounUS /kəˈθiːdrəl/
any large and important church
From this reading The solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading The solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading ——“How graves give up their dead.
death-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading MIDNIGHT.—THE HAIL-STORM.—THE DREADFUL VISITOR.—THE VAMPYRE.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
elementsnounUS /ˈeləmənts/
violent or severe weather (viewed as caused by the action of the four elements)
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
divisible by two
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
fluctuationsnounUS /ˌflʌktʃuːˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “fluctuation” — a wave motion
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
assemble or get together
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading ——“How graves give up their dead.
gravesnounUS /ɡreɪvz/
English writer known for his interest in mythology and in the classics (1895-1985)
From this reading ——“How graves give up their dead.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
growsverbUS /ɡroʊz/
third-person singular of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading And how the night air hideous grows With shrieks!”
HAIL-STORM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIDNIGHT.—THE HAIL-STORM.—THE DREADFUL VISITOR.—THE VAMPYRE.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading And how the night air hideous grows With shrieks!”
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ——“How graves give up their dead.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading MIDNIGHT.—THE HAIL-STORM.—THE DREADFUL VISITOR.—THE VAMPYRE.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading And how the night air hideous grows With shrieks!”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
ominousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːmənəs/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
outbreaknounUS /ˈaʊtbreɪk/
a sudden violent spontaneous occurrence (usually of some undesirable condition)
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
pervadesverbUS /pərˈveɪdz/
third-person singular of “pervade” — spread or diffuse through
From this reading The solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
precedesverbUS /prɪˈsiːdz/
third-person singular of “precede” — be earlier in time; go back further
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
shrieksnounUS /ʃriːks/
plural of “shriek” — sharp piercing cry
From this reading And how the night air hideous grows With shrieks!”
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading The solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading The solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading The solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
terrificadjectiveUS /tərˈɪfɪk/
very great or intense
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And how the night air hideous grows With shrieks!”
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading ——“How graves give up their dead.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading The solemn tones of an old cathedral clock have announced midnight—the air is thick and heavy—a strange, death-like stillness pervades all nature.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading ——“How graves give up their dead.
under normal conditions
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
VAMPYRE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MIDNIGHT.—THE HAIL-STORM.—THE DREADFUL VISITOR.—THE VAMPYRE.
someone who visits
From this reading MIDNIGHT.—THE HAIL-STORM.—THE DREADFUL VISITOR.—THE VAMPYRE.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Like the ominous calm which precedes some more than usually terrific outbreak of the elements, they seem to have paused even in their ordinary fluctuations, to gather a terrific strength for the great effort.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And how the night air hideous grows With shrieks!”
