lantern

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Every man who breathes, every woman who crosses the street, every wind that blows, every ship that sails, every tide that fills, every wave that breaks, is for him alive with mystery as a lantern is alive with light--a little light in an immense darkness.

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Definitions (39)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (6)

  1. noun An often portable case with transparent or translucent sides for holding and protecting a light.
  2. noun A decorative casing for a light, often of paper.
  3. noun A light and its protective or decorative case.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (30)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (2)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (1)

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Examples

  • Along in the summer of 1877 Wells and I hatched out a scheme of country advertising on a larger scale, of which the lantern was to be the vehicle. —  The Making of an American
  • Does that mean that the Majer-Commander does not trust the Magi'i in dealing with Lorn? —  Scion of Cyador
  • He stopped to light his dark-lantern, then edged along the wall to Listerdale's back entrance. —  The Lunatic Fringe
  • Every man who breathes, every woman who crosses the street, every wind that blows, every ship that sails, every tide that fills, every wave that breaks, is for him alive with mystery as a lantern is alive with light--a little light in an immense darkness. —  Old and New Masters
  • He was staring into a lantern, and above the lantern was the dark body of the Captain. —  Jeremy
 

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Lantern has been looked up 227 times, favorited 0 times, listed 22 times, and commented on once.

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Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English, from Old French lanterne, from Latin lanterna, from Greek lamptēr, from lampein, to shine.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. Until recently also lanthorn, a popular spelling simulating horn (in supposed allusion to the transparent plates of horn which often formed the sides of lanterns); from Middle English lanterne, from French lanterne = Spanish Portuguese Italian lanterna, from Latin lanterna, laterna, from Greek λαμπτήρ, a stand or grate used in lighting, a torch, from λάμπειν, give light: see lamp.
  2. Formerly also lanthorn; from lantern, n.
 

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/ˈlæntərn/
by American Heritage

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