used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
having companions or an escort
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HALL AND FARM.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/
plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
CairnsnounUS /kernz/
plural of “cairn” — a mound of stones piled up as a memorial or to mark a boundary or path
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
climatenounUS /ˈklaɪmət/
the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
coatingnounUS /ˈkoʊtɪŋ/
a thin layer covering something
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
crumbsnounUS /krʌmz/
plural of “crumb” — a very small quantity of something
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
darkeradjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkər/
comparative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
to certain extent or degree
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading HALL AND FARM.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
frostnounUS /frɔːst/
ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading HALL AND FARM.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
hedgesnounUS /ˈhedʒɪz/
plural of “hedge” — a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
hoveredverbUS /ˈhʌvərd/
past form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
icyadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsi/
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
immediately past
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
lookoutnounUS /ˈlʊkaʊt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
outhousenounUS /ˈaʊthaʊs/
a small outbuilding with a bench having holes through which a user can defecate
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
RobinsnounUS /ˈrɑːbənz/
plural of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
roofsnounUS /ruːfs/
plural of “roof” — a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
severitynounUS /sɪˈverɪti/
used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
tamelyadverb
in a tame manner
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
tree-trunks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Robins hovered tamely about the back door, on the lookout for crumbs; and human beings kept as much as possible under shelter.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
whiteningnounUS /ˈwaɪtɪnɪŋ/
changing to a lighter color
From this reading All around Cairns farm a coating of snow lay over the fields, whitening hedges and outhouse roofs, and making tree-trunks look darker by contrast.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The snow was not deep, but it was accompanied by a hard frost and an icy wind.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading WINTER had fairly set in at last, with what, in the uncertain English climate, they call “unusual severity.”
