used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading But to-day the air was keen and the white coverlet hard.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The other two had speedily melted, and even this one had shrunk noticeably in an ensuing thaw.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading THE CALL OF THE SOUTH Brilliant morning sunlight flooded the dingy kitchen-dining-living-room of the Oaks house.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But to-day the air was keen and the white coverlet hard.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading THE CALL OF THE SOUTH Brilliant morning sunlight flooded the dingy kitchen-dining-living-room of the Oaks house.
without doubt or question
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
coverletnoun
a decorative bedspread (usually quilted)
From this reading But to-day the air was keen and the white coverlet hard.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
dingyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪndʒi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading THE CALL OF THE SOUTH Brilliant morning sunlight flooded the dingy kitchen-dining-living-room of the Oaks house.
earth-blanket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
ensuingadjectiveUS /ˈensuːɪŋ/
following immediately and as a result of what went before
From this reading The other two had speedily melted, and even this one had shrunk noticeably in an ensuing thaw.
divisible by two
From this reading The other two had speedily melted, and even this one had shrunk noticeably in an ensuing thaw.
at any time
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
the petals or sepals of a flower that bend downward (especially the outer perianth of an iris)
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
floodedadjectiveUS /ˈflʌdəd/
covered with water
From this reading THE CALL OF THE SOUTH Brilliant morning sunlight flooded the dingy kitchen-dining-living-room of the Oaks house.
foliagenounUS /ˈfoʊlɪdʒ/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading But to-day the air was keen and the white coverlet hard.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE CALL OF THE SOUTH Brilliant morning sunlight flooded the dingy kitchen-dining-living-room of the Oaks house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
interioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading But to-day the air was keen and the white coverlet hard.
kitchen-dining-living-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CALL OF THE SOUTH Brilliant morning sunlight flooded the dingy kitchen-dining-living-room of the Oaks house.
immediately past
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
latestadjectiveUS /ˈleɪtəst/
up to the immediate present; most recent or most up-to-date
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
provided with artificial light
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
meltedadjectiveUS /ˈmeltəd/
changed from a solid to a liquid state
From this reading The other two had speedily melted, and even this one had shrunk noticeably in an ensuing thaw.
mid-summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE CALL OF THE SOUTH Brilliant morning sunlight flooded the dingy kitchen-dining-living-room of the Oaks house.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
noticeablyadverbUS /ˈnoʊtɪsəbli/
in a noticeable manner
From this reading The other two had speedily melted, and even this one had shrunk noticeably in an ensuing thaw.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
OaksnounUS /oʊks/
plural of “oak” — the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading THE CALL OF THE SOUTH Brilliant morning sunlight flooded the dingy kitchen-dining-living-room of the Oaks house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CALL OF THE SOUTH Brilliant morning sunlight flooded the dingy kitchen-dining-living-room of the Oaks house.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The other two had speedily melted, and even this one had shrunk noticeably in an ensuing thaw.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The other two had speedily melted, and even this one had shrunk noticeably in an ensuing thaw.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
ricochetedverbUS /ˈrɪkəʃeɪd/
past form of “ricochet” — spring back; spring away from an impact
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
SandersnounUS /ˈsændərz/
plural of “sander” — a power tool used for sanding wood; an endless loop of sandpaper is moved at high speed by an electric motor
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
shrunkverbUS /ʃrʌŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading The other two had speedily melted, and even this one had shrunk noticeably in an ensuing thaw.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
slantingadjectiveUS /ˈslæntɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
SnakenounUS /sneɪk/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading THE CALL OF THE SOUTH Brilliant morning sunlight flooded the dingy kitchen-dining-living-room of the Oaks house.
southward-rising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
speedilyadverbUS /ˈspiːdəli/
with speed
From this reading The other two had speedily melted, and even this one had shrunk noticeably in an ensuing thaw.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
the rays of the sun
From this reading THE CALL OF THE SOUTH Brilliant morning sunlight flooded the dingy kitchen-dining-living-room of the Oaks house.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
thawnounUS /θɔː/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading The other two had speedily melted, and even this one had shrunk noticeably in an ensuing thaw.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CALL OF THE SOUTH Brilliant morning sunlight flooded the dingy kitchen-dining-living-room of the Oaks house.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The other two had speedily melted, and even this one had shrunk noticeably in an ensuing thaw.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to-day the air was keen and the white coverlet hard.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
directed up
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Late though the season was, the southward-rising sun now lit up the interior more clearly than it ever had in mid-summer; for its slanting rays, instead of sinking into green ground and foliage, now ricocheted upward from a thin earth-blanket of snow.
at the time that
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading That snow was two days old, and the latest of three light falls which had come since the night when Snake Sanders and his last victim passed out.
a Caucasian
From this reading But to-day the air was keen and the white coverlet hard.
