used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
anchornounUS /ˈæŋkər/
a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
move towards
From this reading The noise was so great that he failed to hear the slightest indication of the approach of Nicholas until that individual passed directly before him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The noise was so great that he failed to hear the slightest indication of the approach of Nicholas until that individual passed directly before him.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
boughsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
chainsnounUS /tʃeɪnz/
metal shackles; for hands or legs
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading Woolfolk had a momentary glimpse of a huge nose and rapidly moving lips above an impotent chin.
clatternounUS /ˈklætər/
a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
traveling across
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
without deviation
From this reading The noise was so great that he failed to hear the slightest indication of the approach of Nicholas until that individual passed directly before him.
droopingadjectiveUS /ˈdruːpɪŋ/
weak from exhaustion
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading The noise was so great that he failed to hear the slightest indication of the approach of Nicholas until that individual passed directly before him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
frenziedadjectiveUS /ˈfrenzid/
affected with or marked by frenzy or mania uncontrolled by reason
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
fringenounUS /frɪndʒ/
the outside boundary or surface of something
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
GarnounUS /ɡɑːr/
primitive predaceous North American fish covered with hard scales and having long jaws with needlelike teeth
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
a quick look
From this reading Woolfolk had a momentary glimpse of a huge nose and rapidly moving lips above an impotent chin.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The noise was so great that he failed to hear the slightest indication of the approach of Nicholas until that individual passed directly before him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Woolfolk had a momentary glimpse of a huge nose and rapidly moving lips above an impotent chin.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The noise was so great that he failed to hear the slightest indication of the approach of Nicholas until that individual passed directly before him.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading The noise was so great that he failed to hear the slightest indication of the approach of Nicholas until that individual passed directly before him.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The noise was so great that he failed to hear the slightest indication of the approach of Nicholas until that individual passed directly before him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Woolfolk had a momentary glimpse of a huge nose and rapidly moving lips above an impotent chin.
impotentadjectiveUS /ˈɪmpətənt/
lacking power or ability
From this reading Woolfolk had a momentary glimpse of a huge nose and rapidly moving lips above an impotent chin.
indicationnounUS /ˌɪndəˈkeɪʃən/
something that serves to indicate or suggest
From this reading The noise was so great that he failed to hear the slightest indication of the approach of Nicholas until that individual passed directly before him.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading The noise was so great that he failed to hear the slightest indication of the approach of Nicholas until that individual passed directly before him.
located inward
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
ketchnounUS /ketʃ/
a sailing vessel with two masts; the mizzen is forward of the rudderpost
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
lashingnounUS /ˈlæʃɪŋ/
beating with a whip or strap or rope as a form of punishment
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
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 The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Woolfolk had a momentary glimpse of a huge nose and rapidly moving lips above an impotent chin.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
momentaryadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊmənteri/
lasting for a markedly brief time
From this reading Woolfolk had a momentary glimpse of a huge nose and rapidly moving lips above an impotent chin.
mournfuladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrnfəl/
expressing sorrow
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
in motion
From this reading Woolfolk had a momentary glimpse of a huge nose and rapidly moving lips above an impotent chin.
NicholasnounUS /ˈnɪkələs/
a bishop in Asia Minor who is associated with Santa Claus (4th century)
From this reading The noise was so great that he failed to hear the slightest indication of the approach of Nicholas until that individual passed directly before him.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading The noise was so great that he failed to hear the slightest indication of the approach of Nicholas until that individual passed directly before him.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading Woolfolk had a momentary glimpse of a huge nose and rapidly moving lips above an impotent chin.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
oleanders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
oppressivelyadverb
in a heavy and oppressive way
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The noise was so great that he failed to hear the slightest indication of the approach of Nicholas until that individual passed directly before him.
an amount of time
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
poundingnounUS /ˈpaʊndɪŋ/
repeated heavy blows
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
with speed
From this reading Woolfolk had a momentary glimpse of a huge nose and rapidly moving lips above an impotent chin.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
shinglesnounUS /ˈʃɪŋɡəlz/
eruptions along a nerve path often accompanied by severe neuralgia
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
shrilled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading The noise was so great that he failed to hear the slightest indication of the approach of Nicholas until that individual passed directly before him.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The noise was so great that he failed to hear the slightest indication of the approach of Nicholas until that individual passed directly before him.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
sunkenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌŋkən/
having a sunken area
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The noise was so great that he failed to hear the slightest indication of the approach of Nicholas until that individual passed directly before him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The noise was so great that he failed to hear the slightest indication of the approach of Nicholas until that individual passed directly before him.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The noise was so great that he failed to hear the slightest indication of the approach of Nicholas until that individual passed directly before him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
in or at the place that
From this reading Nicholas stopped at the inner fringe of the beach and, from a point where he could not be seen from the ketch, stood gazing out at the _Gar_ pounding on her long anchor chains.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The wind shrilled about the corner of the house; there was a mournful clatter of shingles from above and the frenzied lashing of boughs.
Woolfolk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man remained for an oppressively extended period; Woolfolk could see his heavy, drooping shoulders and sunken head; and then the other moved to the left, crossing the rough open behind the oleanders.
