Chapter II · Chapter 2

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A COLD SWIM.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Christmas is close at hand, and promises to be a bitterly cold one.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Christmas is close at hand, and promises to be a bitterly cold one.

English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Christmas is close at hand, and promises to be a bitterly cold one.

with bitterness; in a resentful manner

From this reading Christmas is close at hand, and promises to be a bitterly cold one.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

with brightness

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading Christmas is close at hand, and promises to be a bitterly cold one.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading Christmas is close at hand, and promises to be a bitterly cold one.

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 COLD SWIM.

taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

the feeling of lively and cheerful joy

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

having or given a form or shape

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

at or to or toward the front

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

in a free manner

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

recently made, produced, or harvested

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Christmas is close at hand, and promises to be a bitterly cold one.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

water frozen in the solid state

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading IT is winter.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading IT is winter.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

and nothing more

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

for more time

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Christmas is close at hand, and promises to be a bitterly cold one.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

plural of “promise” — a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future

From this reading Christmas is close at hand, and promises to be a bitterly cold one.

resembling a serpent in form

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

marked by exceptional merit

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

the sport of gliding on skates

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

travel through water

From this reading A COLD SWIM.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Christmas is close at hand, and promises to be a bitterly cold one.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

not usual or common or ordinary

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

plural of “vein” — a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

close enough to be walked to

From this reading The ice has formed smooth and black across the Serpentine, and a number of people are walking along by its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

properly nourished

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

at the time that

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just the day when people well-clad, well-fed, and in strong health, feel their blood dancing more freely than usual through their veins, and experience an unusual exhilaration of spirits.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading IT is winter.