used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Since the evening before snow had been falling, a fine snow, which a north wind blew before it.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The snow was already hardening, and a thick trimming of seeming swan’s-down edged the parapet of the terrace.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Two years were past and gone.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading From the paling sky the flakes now fell at rarer intervals, light and buoyant, like feathers.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Since the evening before snow had been falling, a fine snow, which a north wind blew before it.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Since the evening before snow had been falling, a fine snow, which a north wind blew before it.
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading Since the evening before snow had been falling, a fine snow, which a north wind blew before it.
buoyantadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪənt/
tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or gas
From this reading From the paling sky the flakes now fell at rarer intervals, light and buoyant, like feathers.
cemeterynounUS /ˈseməteri/
a tract of land used for burials
From this reading One morning in December the little cemetery lay slumbering in the intense cold.
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 One morning in December the little cemetery lay slumbering in the intense cold.
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading One morning in December the little cemetery lay slumbering in the intense cold.
edgedadjectiveUS /edʒd/
having a specified kind of border or edge
From this reading The snow was already hardening, and a thick trimming of seeming swan’s-down edged the parapet of the terrace.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Since the evening before snow had been falling, a fine snow, which a north wind blew before it.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading Since the evening before snow had been falling, a fine snow, which a north wind blew before it.
feathersnounUS /ˈfeðərz/
plural of “feather” — the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
From this reading From the paling sky the flakes now fell at rarer intervals, light and buoyant, like feathers.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading From the paling sky the flakes now fell at rarer intervals, light and buoyant, like feathers.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Since the evening before snow had been falling, a fine snow, which a north wind blew before it.
flakesnounUS /fleɪks/
plural of “flake” — a crystal of snow
From this reading From the paling sky the flakes now fell at rarer intervals, light and buoyant, like feathers.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the paling sky the flakes now fell at rarer intervals, light and buoyant, like feathers.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Two years were past and gone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Since the evening before snow had been falling, a fine snow, which a north wind blew before it.
hardeningnounUS /ˈhɑːrdənɪŋ/
abnormal hardening or thickening of tissue
From this reading The snow was already hardening, and a thick trimming of seeming swan’s-down edged the parapet of the terrace.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One morning in December the little cemetery lay slumbering in the intense cold.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading One morning in December the little cemetery lay slumbering in the intense cold.
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading From the paling sky the flakes now fell at rarer intervals, light and buoyant, like feathers.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Since the evening before snow had been falling, a fine snow, which a north wind blew before it.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading One morning in December the little cemetery lay slumbering in the intense cold.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading From the paling sky the flakes now fell at rarer intervals, light and buoyant, like feathers.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading From the paling sky the flakes now fell at rarer intervals, light and buoyant, like feathers.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading One morning in December the little cemetery lay slumbering in the intense cold.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading One morning in December the little cemetery lay slumbering in the intense cold.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Since the evening before snow had been falling, a fine snow, which a north wind blew before it.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading From the paling sky the flakes now fell at rarer intervals, light and buoyant, like feathers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The snow was already hardening, and a thick trimming of seeming swan’s-down edged the parapet of the terrace.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One morning in December the little cemetery lay slumbering in the intense cold.
palingnoun
a fence made of upright pickets
From this reading From the paling sky the flakes now fell at rarer intervals, light and buoyant, like feathers.
parapetnounUS /ˈperəpet/
a low wall along the edge of a roof or balcony
From this reading The snow was already hardening, and a thick trimming of seeming swan’s-down edged the parapet of the terrace.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Two years were past and gone.
rareradjectiveUS /ˈrerər/
comparative of “rare” — not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading From the paling sky the flakes now fell at rarer intervals, light and buoyant, like feathers.
seemingadjectiveUS /ˈsiːmɪŋ/
appearing as such but not necessarily so
From this reading The snow was already hardening, and a thick trimming of seeming swan’s-down edged the parapet of the terrace.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since the evening before snow had been falling, a fine snow, which a north wind blew before it.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading From the paling sky the flakes now fell at rarer intervals, light and buoyant, like feathers.
slumberingverbUS /ˈslʌmbərɪŋ/
-ing form of “slumber” — be asleep
From this reading One morning in December the little cemetery lay slumbering in the intense cold.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading Since the evening before snow had been falling, a fine snow, which a north wind blew before it.
swan's-down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snow was already hardening, and a thick trimming of seeming swan’s-down edged the parapet of the terrace.
terracenounUS /ˈterəs/
usually paved outdoor area adjoining a residence
From this reading The snow was already hardening, and a thick trimming of seeming swan’s-down edged the parapet of the terrace.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One morning in December the little cemetery lay slumbering in the intense cold.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The snow was already hardening, and a thick trimming of seeming swan’s-down edged the parapet of the terrace.
trimmingnounUS /ˈtrɪmɪŋ/
the act of adding decoration
From this reading The snow was already hardening, and a thick trimming of seeming swan’s-down edged the parapet of the terrace.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two years were past and gone.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The snow was already hardening, and a thick trimming of seeming swan’s-down edged the parapet of the terrace.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Two years were past and gone.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Since the evening before snow had been falling, a fine snow, which a north wind blew before it.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Since the evening before snow had been falling, a fine snow, which a north wind blew before it.
a late time of life
From this reading Two years were past and gone.
