1889
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter of 1889-90 is memorable in California as the winter of "the big snow."
25
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
90
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter of 1889-90 is memorable in California as the winter of "the big snow."
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Drifts in the canyons must have been more than double the depth of the snow on a level.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
afootadverbUS /əˈfʊt/
on foot; walking
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
altitudesnounUS /ˈæltɪtuːdz/
plural of “altitude” — elevation especially above sea level or above the earth's surface
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The winter of 1889-90 is memorable in California as the winter of "the big snow."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Drifts in the canyons must have been more than double the depth of the snow on a level.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading IN THE BIG SNOW.
blockadenounUS /ˌblɑːˈkeɪd/
a war measure that isolates some area of importance to the enemy
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
blockadedadjectiveUS /ˌblɑːˈkeɪdɪd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
CalifornianounUS /ˌkæləˈfɔːrnjə/
a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes
From this reading The winter of 1889-90 is memorable in California as the winter of "the big snow."
canyonsnounUS /ˈkænjənz/
plural of “canyon” — a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall
From this reading Drifts in the canyons must have been more than double the depth of the snow on a level.
CentraladjectiveUS /ˈsentrəl/
serving as an essential component
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
depthnounUS /depθ/
the extent downward or backward or inward
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
increase twofold
From this reading Drifts in the canyons must have been more than double the depth of the snow on a level.
driftsnounUS /drɪfts/
plural of “drift” — a force that moves something along
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
estimatenounUS /ˈestəmət/
an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
exaggerationnounUS /ɪɡˌzædʒərˈeɪʃən/
extravagant exaggeration
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Drifts in the canyons must have been more than double the depth of the snow on a level.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
imprisonedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈprɪzənd/
being in captivity
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE BIG SNOW.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The winter of 1889-90 is memorable in California as the winter of "the big snow."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading Drifts in the canyons must have been more than double the depth of the snow on a level.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
memorableadjectiveUS /ˈmemərəbəl/
worth remembering
From this reading The winter of 1889-90 is memorable in California as the winter of "the big snow."
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Drifts in the canyons must have been more than double the depth of the snow on a level.
NevadanounUS /nəˈvɑːdə/
a state in the western United States
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
not any; not one
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The winter of 1889-90 is memorable in California as the winter of "the big snow."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Drifts in the canyons must have been more than double the depth of the snow on a level.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
PacificnounUS /pəˈsɪfɪk/
the largest ocean in the world
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
passengernounUS /ˈpæsəndʒər/
a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
polesnounUS /poʊlz/
plural of “pole” — a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
SierranounUS /siˈerə/
a range of mountains (usually with jagged peaks and irregular outline)
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading IN THE BIG SNOW.
telegraphnounUS /ˈteləɡræf/
apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE BIG SNOW.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
topsadjectiveUS /tɑːps/
of the highest quality
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
trainsnounUS /treɪnz/
plural of “train” — public transport provided by a line of railway cars coupled together and drawn by a locomotive
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Passing through the blockade and over the range afoot, I walked at times above the tops of the telegraph poles, and think it no exaggeration to estimate the depth of snow at the higher altitudes at 25 feet.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the latter part of January the Central Pacific line over the Sierra Nevada was blockaded, and three or four passenger trains were imprisoned in the drifts for more than two weeks.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The winter of 1889-90 is memorable in California as the winter of "the big snow."
