used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
ArcticnounUS /ˈɑːrktɪk/
the regions to the north of the Arctic Circle centered on the North Pole
From this reading The northeast wind, laden with Arctic frost, swept the island with withering blasts, and cut to the bone.
attainverbUS /əˈteɪn/
to gain with effort
From this reading The wind was rising, too, and there was no doubt that with darkness it would attain the velocity of a gale, and the storm the proportions of a sub-Arctic blizzard.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Snow was already falling heavily, and presently it would be driving and swirling in dense, suffocating clouds.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
blastsnounUS /blæsts/
plural of “blast” — a very long fly ball
From this reading The northeast wind, laden with Arctic frost, swept the island with withering blasts, and cut to the bone.
blizzardnounUS /ˈblɪzərd/
a storm with widespread snowfall accompanied by strong winds
From this reading The wind was rising, too, and there was no doubt that with darkness it would attain the velocity of a gale, and the storm the proportions of a sub-Arctic blizzard.
Bobby'snounUS /ˈbɑːbiz/
possessive form of “bobby” — an informal term for a British policeman
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
bonenounUS /boʊn/
rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates
From this reading The northeast wind, laden with Arctic frost, swept the island with withering blasts, and cut to the bone.
clothingnounUS /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/
a covering designed to be worn on a person's body
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Snow was already falling heavily, and presently it would be driving and swirling in dense, suffocating clouds.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The northeast wind, laden with Arctic frost, swept the island with withering blasts, and cut to the bone.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The wind was rising, too, and there was no doubt that with darkness it would attain the velocity of a gale, and the storm the proportions of a sub-Arctic blizzard.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading Snow was already falling heavily, and presently it would be driving and swirling in dense, suffocating clouds.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading The wind was rising, too, and there was no doubt that with darkness it would attain the velocity of a gale, and the storm the proportions of a sub-Arctic blizzard.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading Snow was already falling heavily, and presently it would be driving and swirling in dense, suffocating clouds.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Winter had fallen like a thunderbolt from heaven.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading Snow was already falling heavily, and presently it would be driving and swirling in dense, suffocating clouds.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Winter had fallen like a thunderbolt from heaven.
frostnounUS /frɔːst/
ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
From this reading The northeast wind, laden with Arctic frost, swept the island with withering blasts, and cut to the bone.
galenounUS /ɡeɪl/
a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
From this reading The wind was rising, too, and there was no doubt that with darkness it would attain the velocity of a gale, and the storm the proportions of a sub-Arctic blizzard.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading Winter had fallen like a thunderbolt from heaven.
to a considerable degree
From this reading Snow was already falling heavily, and presently it would be driving and swirling in dense, suffocating clouds.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Snow was already falling heavily, and presently it would be driving and swirling in dense, suffocating clouds.
intenselyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtensli/
to a high degree; extremely; in high concentration or density
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading The northeast wind, laden with Arctic frost, swept the island with withering blasts, and cut to the bone.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The wind was rising, too, and there was no doubt that with darkness it would attain the velocity of a gale, and the storm the proportions of a sub-Arctic blizzard.
ladenadjectiveUS /ˈleɪdən/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading The northeast wind, laden with Arctic frost, swept the island with withering blasts, and cut to the bone.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Winter had fallen like a thunderbolt from heaven.
not any; not one
From this reading The wind was rising, too, and there was no doubt that with darkness it would attain the velocity of a gale, and the storm the proportions of a sub-Arctic blizzard.
northeastnounUS /ˌnɔːrˈθiːst/
the compass point midway between north and east; at 45 degrees
From this reading The northeast wind, laden with Arctic frost, swept the island with withering blasts, and cut to the bone.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The wind was rising, too, and there was no doubt that with darkness it would attain the velocity of a gale, and the storm the proportions of a sub-Arctic blizzard.
in the near future
From this reading Snow was already falling heavily, and presently it would be driving and swirling in dense, suffocating clouds.
proportionsnounUS /prəˈpɔːrʃənz/
plural of “proportion” — the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole
From this reading The wind was rising, too, and there was no doubt that with darkness it would attain the velocity of a gale, and the storm the proportions of a sub-Arctic blizzard.
a safe place
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading The wind was rising, too, and there was no doubt that with darkness it would attain the velocity of a gale, and the storm the proportions of a sub-Arctic blizzard.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading Snow was already falling heavily, and presently it would be driving and swirling in dense, suffocating clouds.
SNUGadjectiveUS /snʌɡ/
offering safety; well protected or concealed
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading The wind was rising, too, and there was no doubt that with darkness it would attain the velocity of a gale, and the storm the proportions of a sub-Arctic blizzard.
sub-Arctic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wind was rising, too, and there was no doubt that with darkness it would attain the velocity of a gale, and the storm the proportions of a sub-Arctic blizzard.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
suffocatingadjectiveUS /ˈsʌfəkeɪtɪŋ/
causing difficulty in breathing especially through lack of fresh air and presence of heat
From this reading Snow was already falling heavily, and presently it would be driving and swirling in dense, suffocating clouds.
possessing sweep
From this reading The northeast wind, laden with Arctic frost, swept the island with withering blasts, and cut to the bone.
swirlingverbUS /ˈswɜːrlɪŋ/
-ing form of “swirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading Snow was already falling heavily, and presently it would be driving and swirling in dense, suffocating clouds.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The wind was rising, too, and there was no doubt that with darkness it would attain the velocity of a gale, and the storm the proportions of a sub-Arctic blizzard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The wind was rising, too, and there was no doubt that with darkness it would attain the velocity of a gale, and the storm the proportions of a sub-Arctic blizzard.
thunderboltnounUS /ˈθʌndərbɔːlt/
a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading Winter had fallen like a thunderbolt from heaven.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The northeast wind, laden with Arctic frost, swept the island with withering blasts, and cut to the bone.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The wind was rising, too, and there was no doubt that with darkness it would attain the velocity of a gale, and the storm the proportions of a sub-Arctic blizzard.
velocitynounUS /vəˈlɑːsəti/
distance travelled per unit time
From this reading The wind was rising, too, and there was no doubt that with darkness it would attain the velocity of a gale, and the storm the proportions of a sub-Arctic blizzard.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The northeast wind, laden with Arctic frost, swept the island with withering blasts, and cut to the bone.
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 fallen like a thunderbolt from heaven.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A SNUG REFUGE The weather had suddenly become intensely cold, and Bobby's wet clothing was already stiff with ice.
witheringadjectiveUS /ˈwɪðərɪŋ/
wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction
From this reading The northeast wind, laden with Arctic frost, swept the island with withering blasts, and cut to the bone.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The wind was rising, too, and there was no doubt that with darkness it would attain the velocity of a gale, and the storm the proportions of a sub-Arctic blizzard.
