used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The weakness was just about subdued when she became aware of more company in the room.
alightverbUS /əˈlaɪt/
to come to rest, settle
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Kelpie, still shaken and very much on the defensive from her encounter with Wee Mairi, glared at them with frank hostility.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading _Dhé!_ They were nearly as disconcerting as Wee Mairi—and there were two of them.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Kelpie, still shaken and very much on the defensive from her encounter with Wee Mairi, glared at them with frank hostility.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading The weakness was just about subdued when she became aware of more company in the room.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The weakness was just about subdued when she became aware of more company in the room.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading The weakness was just about subdued when she became aware of more company in the room.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
defensiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈfensɪv/
intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack
From this reading Kelpie, still shaken and very much on the defensive from her encounter with Wee Mairi, glared at them with frank hostility.
Dhé
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Dhé!_ They were nearly as disconcerting as Wee Mairi—and there were two of them.
disconcertingadjectiveUS /ˌdɪskənˈsɜːrtɪŋ/
causing an emotional disturbance
From this reading _Dhé!_ They were nearly as disconcerting as Wee Mairi—and there were two of them.
eight-year-old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
encounterverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
come together
From this reading Kelpie, still shaken and very much on the defensive from her encounter with Wee Mairi, glared at them with frank hostility.
opinion or judgment
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Kelpie, still shaken and very much on the defensive from her encounter with Wee Mairi, glared at them with frank hostility.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Kelpie, still shaken and very much on the defensive from her encounter with Wee Mairi, glared at them with frank hostility.
glaredverbUS /ɡlerd/
past form of “glare” — look at with a fixed gaze
From this reading Kelpie, still shaken and very much on the defensive from her encounter with Wee Mairi, glared at them with frank hostility.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Kelpie, still shaken and very much on the defensive from her encounter with Wee Mairi, glared at them with frank hostility.
hostilitynounUS /hɑːˈstɪləti/
a hostile (very unfriendly) disposition
From this reading Kelpie, still shaken and very much on the defensive from her encounter with Wee Mairi, glared at them with frank hostility.
identicaladjectiveUS /aɪˈdentɪkəl/
exactly alike; incapable of being perceived as different
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The weakness was just about subdued when she became aware of more company in the room.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading They went on staring at her with unwavering interest.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
and nothing more
From this reading The weakness was just about subdued when she became aware of more company in the room.
Kelpienoun
(Scottish folklore) water spirit in the form of a horse that likes to drown its riders
From this reading Kelpie, still shaken and very much on the defensive from her encounter with Wee Mairi, glared at them with frank hostility.
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
Mairi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kelpie, still shaken and very much on the defensive from her encounter with Wee Mairi, glared at them with frank hostility.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The weakness was just about subdued when she became aware of more company in the room.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Kelpie, still shaken and very much on the defensive from her encounter with Wee Mairi, glared at them with frank hostility.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading _Dhé!_ They were nearly as disconcerting as Wee Mairi—and there were two of them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The weakness was just about subdued when she became aware of more company in the room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Kelpie, still shaken and very much on the defensive from her encounter with Wee Mairi, glared at them with frank hostility.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
having or expressing strong emotions
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
penetratingadjectiveUS /ˈpenətreɪtɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The weakness was just about subdued when she became aware of more company in the room.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
shakenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪkən/
disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock
From this reading Kelpie, still shaken and very much on the defensive from her encounter with Wee Mairi, glared at them with frank hostility.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The weakness was just about subdued when she became aware of more company in the room.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading They went on staring at her with unwavering interest.
not in physical motion
From this reading Kelpie, still shaken and very much on the defensive from her encounter with Wee Mairi, glared at them with frank hostility.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading The weakness was just about subdued when she became aware of more company in the room.
tannedadjectiveUS /tænd/
(of skin) having a tan color from exposure to the sun
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The weakness was just about subdued when she became aware of more company in the room.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Kelpie, still shaken and very much on the defensive from her encounter with Wee Mairi, glared at them with frank hostility.
in or at that place or location
From this reading _Dhé!_ They were nearly as disconcerting as Wee Mairi—and there were two of them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They went on staring at her with unwavering interest.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading _Dhé!_ They were nearly as disconcerting as Wee Mairi—and there were two of them.
unwaveringadjectiveUS /ənˈweɪvərɪŋ/
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading They went on staring at her with unwavering interest.
precisely as stated
From this reading Kelpie, still shaken and very much on the defensive from her encounter with Wee Mairi, glared at them with frank hostility.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The weakness was just about subdued when she became aware of more company in the room.
a flaw or weak point
From this reading The weakness was just about subdued when she became aware of more company in the room.
WeeadjectiveUS /wiː/
(used informally) very small
From this reading Kelpie, still shaken and very much on the defensive from her encounter with Wee Mairi, glared at them with frank hostility.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They went on staring at her with unwavering interest.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
at the time that
From this reading The weakness was just about subdued when she became aware of more company in the room.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
in the company of; together with
From this reading This time it was a pair of seven or eight-year-old lads with penetrating blue eyes set in identical tanned faces which were alight with passionate curiosity.
