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AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STRANGE NIGHT.
abroad
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From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The short winter day, made all the shorter by a thick pall of cloud stretched across the sky, was fast drawing to a close.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
all
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From this reading The short winter day, made all the shorter by a thick pall of cloud stretched across the sky, was fast drawing to a close.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
approaching
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From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
become
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From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
black
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From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The short winter day, made all the shorter by a thick pall of cloud stretched across the sky, was fast drawing to a close.
chapter
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From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
city
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From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
close
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From this reading The short winter day, made all the shorter by a thick pall of cloud stretched across the sky, was fast drawing to a close.
cloud
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From this reading The short winter day, made all the shorter by a thick pall of cloud stretched across the sky, was fast drawing to a close.
condition
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From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
dangerous
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From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
day
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From this reading The short winter day, made all the shorter by a thick pall of cloud stretched across the sky, was fast drawing to a close.
distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/
not friendly or close
From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
districts
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From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
drawing
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From this reading The short winter day, made all the shorter by a thick pall of cloud stretched across the sky, was fast drawing to a close.
events
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From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
exceedingly
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From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
faint
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From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
Far
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From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
farewell
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From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
fast
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From this reading The short winter day, made all the shorter by a thick pall of cloud stretched across the sky, was fast drawing to a close.
few
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From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
harbour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
Just
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From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
lawless
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From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
lay
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From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
light
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From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
like
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From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
lingered
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From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
loth
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From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
made
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From this reading The short winter day, made all the shorter by a thick pall of cloud stretched across the sky, was fast drawing to a close.
making
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From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
mantlenounUS /ˈmæntəl/
a loose covering like a cloak
From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
Marcos
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From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
minutes
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From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
nearer
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From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
NIGHT
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From this reading A STRANGE NIGHT.
nightfall
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From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
only
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From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
out
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From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
pall
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From this reading The short winter day, made all the shorter by a thick pall of cloud stretched across the sky, was fast drawing to a close.
people
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From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
portion
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From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
previous
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From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
recorded
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From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
say
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From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
Sea-Front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading The short winter day, made all the shorter by a thick pall of cloud stretched across the sky, was fast drawing to a close.
shorter
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From this reading The short winter day, made all the shorter by a thick pall of cloud stretched across the sky, was fast drawing to a close.
silver
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From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
six
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short winter day, made all the shorter by a thick pall of cloud stretched across the sky, was fast drawing to a close.
slowly
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From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
STRANGE
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From this reading A STRANGE NIGHT.
streak
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From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
stretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short winter day, made all the shorter by a thick pall of cloud stretched across the sky, was fast drawing to a close.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
sullen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
thick
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From this reading The short winter day, made all the shorter by a thick pall of cloud stretched across the sky, was fast drawing to a close.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The short winter day, made all the shorter by a thick pall of cloud stretched across the sky, was fast drawing to a close.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
undertakingnounUS /ˌʌndərˈteɪkɪŋ/
a serious task, project, or venture that someone agrees to do
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
unpleasant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
Valparaiso
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
Veneda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
walking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just a week, night for night, after the events recorded in the previous chapter, Marcos Veneda was making his way slowly along the Sea-Front, towards a distant portion of the city.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the streets, though the hour still wanted twenty minutes of six, but few people were abroad; for such was the lawless condition of Valparaiso at that time, that walking after nightfall had become not only an unpleasant, but in many districts an exceedingly dangerous undertaking.
wharves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far out beyond the harbour a faint streak of silver light still lingered, as if loth to say farewell; but nearer the wharves the water lay black and sullen like the mantle of approaching night.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short winter day, made all the shorter by a thick pall of cloud stretched across the sky, was fast drawing to a close.
