used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading PUNISHMENT AT MECKLEMBURG HOUSE It was about as miserable an afternoon as one could wish to see.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading PUNISHMENT AT MECKLEMBURG HOUSE It was about as miserable an afternoon as one could wish to see.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading PUNISHMENT AT MECKLEMBURG HOUSE It was about as miserable an afternoon as one could wish to see.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading PUNISHMENT AT MECKLEMBURG HOUSE It was about as miserable an afternoon as one could wish to see.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading PUNISHMENT AT MECKLEMBURG HOUSE It was about as miserable an afternoon as one could wish to see.
boastedverbUS /ˈboʊstəd/
past form of “boast” — show off
From this reading True, it was early in the month, but February never boasted weather of more unmitigated misery.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading May is the poet's month, but there was nothing of poetry about it then.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading PUNISHMENT AT MECKLEMBURG HOUSE It was about as miserable an afternoon as one could wish to see.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading At half-past two it was so dark in the schoolroom of Mecklemburg House that one could with difficulty see to read.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading At half-past two it was so dark in the schoolroom of Mecklemburg House that one could with difficulty see to read.
drizzlingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪzəlɪŋ/
(of rain) falling lightly in very small drops
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading True, it was early in the month, but February never boasted weather of more unmitigated misery.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading True, it was early in the month, but February never boasted weather of more unmitigated misery.
framesnounUS /freɪmz/
plural of “frame” — the framework for a pair of eyeglasses
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At half-past two it was so dark in the schoolroom of Mecklemburg House that one could with difficulty see to read.
hazenounUS /heɪz/
atmospheric moisture or dust or smoke that causes reduced visibility
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
hidingnounUS /ˈhaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of keeping something secret
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading PUNISHMENT AT MECKLEMBURG HOUSE It was about as miserable an afternoon as one could wish to see.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading True, it was early in the month, but February never boasted weather of more unmitigated misery.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading May is the poet's month, but there was nothing of poetry about it then.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading PUNISHMENT AT MECKLEMBURG HOUSE It was about as miserable an afternoon as one could wish to see.
leadenadjectiveUS /ˈledən/
darkened with overcast
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading May is the poet's month, but there was nothing of poetry about it then.
MECKLEMBURG
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PUNISHMENT AT MECKLEMBURG HOUSE It was about as miserable an afternoon as one could wish to see.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading PUNISHMENT AT MECKLEMBURG HOUSE It was about as miserable an afternoon as one could wish to see.
a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune
From this reading True, it was early in the month, but February never boasted weather of more unmitigated misery.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading May is the poet's month, but there was nothing of poetry about it then.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading True, it was early in the month, but February never boasted weather of more unmitigated misery.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading True, it was early in the month, but February never boasted weather of more unmitigated misery.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading May is the poet's month, but there was nothing of poetry about it then.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading May is the poet's month, but there was nothing of poetry about it then.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading PUNISHMENT AT MECKLEMBURG HOUSE It was about as miserable an afternoon as one could wish to see.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
poet'snounUS /ˈpoʊəts/
possessive form of “poet” — a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)
From this reading May is the poet's month, but there was nothing of poetry about it then.
literature in metrical form
From this reading May is the poet's month, but there was nothing of poetry about it then.
the act of punishing
From this reading PUNISHMENT AT MECKLEMBURG HOUSE It was about as miserable an afternoon as one could wish to see.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
rattlingnounUS /ˈrætlɪŋ/
a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading At half-past two it was so dark in the schoolroom of Mecklemburg House that one could with difficulty see to read.
schoolroomnounUS /ˈskuːlruːm/
a room in a school where lessons take place
From this reading At half-past two it was so dark in the schoolroom of Mecklemburg House that one could with difficulty see to read.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading PUNISHMENT AT MECKLEMBURG HOUSE It was about as miserable an afternoon as one could wish to see.
shriekingnounUS /ˈʃriːkɪŋ/
sharp piercing cry
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading At half-past two it was so dark in the schoolroom of Mecklemburg House that one could with difficulty see to read.
sullenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌlən/
showing a brooding ill humor
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At half-past two it was so dark in the schoolroom of Mecklemburg House that one could with difficulty see to read.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading May is the poet's month, but there was nothing of poetry about it then.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading May is the poet's month, but there was nothing of poetry about it then.
in or at that place or location
From this reading May is the poet's month, but there was nothing of poetry about it then.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading PUNISHMENT AT MECKLEMBURG HOUSE It was about as miserable an afternoon as one could wish to see.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading True, it was early in the month, but February never boasted weather of more unmitigated misery.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading At half-past two it was so dark in the schoolroom of Mecklemburg House that one could with difficulty see to read.
unmitigatedadjectiveUS /ənˈmɪtəɡeɪtɪd/
not diminished or moderated in intensity or severity; sometimes used as an intensifier
From this reading True, it was early in the month, but February never boasted weather of more unmitigated misery.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading PUNISHMENT AT MECKLEMBURG HOUSE It was about as miserable an afternoon as one could wish to see.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading True, it was early in the month, but February never boasted weather of more unmitigated misery.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Outside a cold drizzling rain was falling, a shrieking east wind was rattling the windows in their frames, and a sullen haze was hiding the leaden sky.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading PUNISHMENT AT MECKLEMBURG HOUSE It was about as miserable an afternoon as one could wish to see.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At half-past two it was so dark in the schoolroom of Mecklemburg House that one could with difficulty see to read.
