adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
aroseverbUS /ərˈoʊz/
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
bitteradjectiveUS /ˈbɪtər/
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
blastverbUS /blæst/
make a strident sound
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
braveadjectiveUS /breɪv/
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
chimneysnounUS /ˈtʃɪmniz/
plural of “chimney” — a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
coffee-houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
crashingadjectiveUS /ˈkræʃɪŋ/
informal intensifiers
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
creakingnounUS /ˈkriːkɪŋ/
a squeaking sound
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
crowdedadjectiveUS /ˈkraʊdəd/
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.
dismaladjectiveUS /ˈdɪzməl/
causing dejection
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
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 One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
eightyadjectiveUS /ˈeɪti/
being ten more than seventy
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
endurancenounUS /ˈendərəns/
the power to withstand hardship or stress
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
fellverbUS /fel/
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
fierceradjectiveUS /ˈfɪrsər/
comparative of “fierce” — marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/
start firing a weapon
From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
forgotverbUS /fərˈɡɑːt/
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
framesnounUS /freɪmz/
plural of “frame” — the framework for a pair of eyeglasses
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
furynounUS /ˈfjʊri/
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
gladnessnoun
experiencing joy and pleasure
From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
grewverbUS /ɡruː/
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
guestsnounUS /ɡests/
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/
ten 10s
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
icy-cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
keenadjectiveUS /kiːn/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
looksnounUS /lʊks/
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
LordnounUS /lɔːrd/
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
meansnounUS /miːnz/
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
minutenounUS /ˈmɪnət/
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
northnounUS /nɔːrθ/
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
pastnounUS /pæst/
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
pavementnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənt/
the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
politicaladjectiveUS /pəˈlɪtəkəl/
involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians
From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
rattledadjectiveUS /ˈrætəld/
thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (“rattled” is an informal term)
From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.
reeledverbUS /riːld/
past form of “reel” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
rockedverbUS /rɑːkt/
past form of “rock” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
sevennounUS /ˈsevən/
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
shakenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪkən/
disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
sharpadjectiveUS /ʃɑːrp/
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.
Signboards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
sleetnounUS /sliːt/
partially melted snow (or a mixture of rain and snow)
From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.
sortnounUS /sɔːrt/
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
staggeredverbUS /ˈstæɡərd/
past form of “stagger” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
steeplenounUS /ˈstiːpəl/
a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
stormverbUS /stɔːrm/
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.
streetsnounUS /striːts/
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.
sweptadjectiveUS /swept/
possessing sweep
From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
thousandnounUS /ˈθaʊzənd/
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading In coffee-houses of the better sort, guests crowded round the fire, forgot to be political, and told each other with a secret gladness that the blast grew fiercer every minute.
totteringadjectiveUS /ˈtɑːtərɪŋ/
unsteady in gait as from infirmity or old age
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
tremblingnounUS /ˈtrembəlɪŋ/
a shaky motion
From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.
troubledadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌbəld/
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
warmthnounUS /wɔːrmθ/
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
weathernounUS /ˈweðər/
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Signboards, shaken past endurance in their creaking frames, fell crashing on the pavement; old tottering chimneys reeled and staggered in the blast; and many a steeple rocked again that night, as though the earth were troubled.
wetadjectiveUS /wet/
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading It was not a time for those who could by any means get light and warmth, to brave the fury of the weather.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
windowsnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊz/
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading A bitter storm of sleet, sharp, dense, and icy-cold, swept the wet streets, and rattled on the trembling windows.
wintryadjectiveUS /ˈwɪntri/
characteristic of or occurring in winter
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
yearnounUS /jɪr/
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading One wintry evening, early in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a keen north wind arose as it grew dark, and night came on with black and dismal looks.
