used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This was about a week before Christmas.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading This was about a week before Christmas.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was exhilarating, Helen felt, after those long months at the hospital broken only by dull constitutionals.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Call it the Mountains of the Moon, my dear," he had said, "it sounds definite and may mean so much--or so little."
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading This was about a week before Christmas.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
Blackborough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading It was exhilarating, Helen felt, after those long months at the hospital broken only by dull constitutionals.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was exhilarating, Helen felt, after those long months at the hospital broken only by dull constitutionals.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Call it the Mountains of the Moon, my dear," he had said, "it sounds definite and may mean so much--or so little."
cheerfullyadverbUS /ˈtʃɪrfəli/
in a cheerful manner
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading This was about a week before Christmas.
constitutionals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was exhilarating, Helen felt, after those long months at the hospital broken only by dull constitutionals.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
dearly loved
From this reading "Call it the Mountains of the Moon, my dear," he had said, "it sounds definite and may mean so much--or so little."
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading "Call it the Mountains of the Moon, my dear," he had said, "it sounds definite and may mean so much--or so little."
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading It was exhilarating, Helen felt, after those long months at the hospital broken only by dull constitutionals.
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
exhilaratingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪŋ/
making lively and cheerful
From this reading It was exhilarating, Helen felt, after those long months at the hospital broken only by dull constitutionals.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading It was exhilarating, Helen felt, after those long months at the hospital broken only by dull constitutionals.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
frostnounUS /frɔːst/
ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading It was exhilarating, Helen felt, after those long months at the hospital broken only by dull constitutionals.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
hoofsnounUS /hʊfs/
plural of “hoof” — the foot of an ungulate mammal
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
a health facility where patients receive treatment
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Call it the Mountains of the Moon, my dear," he had said, "it sounds definite and may mean so much--or so little."
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Call it the Mountains of the Moon, my dear," he had said, "it sounds definite and may mean so much--or so little."
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading It was exhilarating, Helen felt, after those long months at the hospital broken only by dull constitutionals.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "Call it the Mountains of the Moon, my dear," he had said, "it sounds definite and may mean so much--or so little."
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "Call it the Mountains of the Moon, my dear," he had said, "it sounds definite and may mean so much--or so little."
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading It was exhilarating, Helen felt, after those long months at the hospital broken only by dull constitutionals.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "Call it the Mountains of the Moon, my dear," he had said, "it sounds definite and may mean so much--or so little."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Call it the Mountains of the Moon, my dear," he had said, "it sounds definite and may mean so much--or so little."
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
and nothing more
From this reading It was exhilarating, Helen felt, after those long months at the hospital broken only by dull constitutionals.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Call it the Mountains of the Moon, my dear," he had said, "it sounds definite and may mean so much--or so little."
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
roughenedadjective
used of skin roughened as a result of cold or exposure
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Call it the Mountains of the Moon, my dear," he had said, "it sounds definite and may mean so much--or so little."
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading "Call it the Mountains of the Moon, my dear," he had said, "it sounds definite and may mean so much--or so little."
sprinklingnounUS /ˈsprɪŋklɪŋ/
a small number (of something) dispersed haphazardly
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was about a week before Christmas.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It was exhilarating, Helen felt, after those long months at the hospital broken only by dull constitutionals.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It gave promise of being a hard one, for a slight sprinkling, more of frost than snow, lay on the roads, and the horses' roughened hoofs echoed cheerfully through the keen air.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
precisely as stated
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was about a week before Christmas.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading This was about a week before Christmas.
at the time that
From this reading Ned Blackborough had been to the Mountains of the Moon; at least so he told his cousin when he drove her out from the hospital to New Park the very day of his arrival at home.
