used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CONCLUSION It was a white Yule-tide that year.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In an hour my tracks were covered.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
bellsnounUS /belz/
plural of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
circuitously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading CONCLUSION It was a white Yule-tide that year.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading In an hour my tracks were covered.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
depositedverbUS /dəˈpɑːzɪtɪd/
past form of “deposit” — put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
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 And next morning, when I woke early, snow was still falling.
effigies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading And next morning, when I woke early, snow was still falling.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
harnessverbUS /ˈhɑːrnəs/
put a harness
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading In an hour my tracks were covered.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading CONCLUSION It was a white Yule-tide that year.
jingleverbUS /ˈdʒɪŋɡəl/
make a sound typical of metallic objects
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
minglingnounUS /ˈmɪŋɡəlɪŋ/
the action of people mingling and coming into contact
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading And next morning, when I woke early, snow was still falling.
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading In an hour my tracks were covered.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
parcelnounUS /ˈpɑːrsəl/
a wrapped container
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
porchnounUS /pɔːrtʃ/
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
radiancenounUS /ˈreɪdiːəns/
the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
reflectingadjectiveUS /rɪˈflektɪŋ/
causing reflection or having a device that reflects
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
ridersnounUS /ˈraɪdərz/
plural of “rider” — a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
Sleighs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
stealthyadjectiveUS /ˈstelθi/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
not in physical motion
From this reading And next morning, when I woke early, snow was still falling.
in a strange manner
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
stuffedadjectiveUS /stʌft/
filled with something
From this reading Sleighs passed, in the stealthy fashion of sleighs, the jingle of harness and bells mingling, the muffled figures of the riders looking strangely like stuffed effigies in the white radiance of the reflecting snow.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading CONCLUSION It was a white Yule-tide that year.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
tracksnounUS /træks/
plural of “track” — a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading In an hour my tracks were covered.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Late on Christmas Eve I crept carefully and circuitously up to the house next door and deposited our little parcel of gifts in the shadow of the porch.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CONCLUSION It was a white Yule-tide that year.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In an hour my tracks were covered.
at the time that
From this reading And next morning, when I woke early, snow was still falling.
a Caucasian
From this reading CONCLUSION It was a white Yule-tide that year.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading And next morning, when I woke early, snow was still falling.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading CONCLUSION It was a white Yule-tide that year.
Yule-tide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CONCLUSION It was a white Yule-tide that year.
