used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The grain shuddered beneath the onslaught and bent to the ground.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading The grain shuddered beneath the onslaught and bent to the ground.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
the act of breaking something
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
eccentricadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsentrɪk/
conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
giganticadjectiveUS /dʒaɪˈɡæntɪk/
so exceedingly large or extensive as to suggest a giant or mammoth
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
grainnounUS /ɡreɪn/
a relatively small granular particle of a substance
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
hailverbUS /heɪl/
praise vociferously
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
ignoredadjectiveUS /ˌɪɡˈnɔːrd/
disregarded
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
lashingnounUS /ˈlæʃɪŋ/
beating with a whip or strap or rope as a form of punishment
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
municipalitiesnounUS /ˌmjuːnɪsəˈpælɪtiz/
plural of “municipality” — an urban district having corporate status and powers of self-government
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
not any; not one
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
onslaughtnounUS /ˈɔːnslɔːt/
a sudden and severe onset of trouble
From this reading The grain shuddered beneath the onslaught and bent to the ground.
outstretchedadjectiveUS /aʊtˈstretʃt/
fully extended especially in length
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
overspreadverb
spread across or over
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
a course of conduct
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
shudderedverbUS /ˈʃʌdərd/
past form of “shudder” — shake, as from cold
From this reading The grain shuddered beneath the onslaught and bent to the ground.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
stalkverbUS /stɔːk/
walk stiffly
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
having a supporting base
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
express in words
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The grain shuddered beneath the onslaught and bent to the ground.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
ventnounUS /vent/
a hole for the escape of gas or air
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
vindictiveadjectiveUS /vɪnˈdɪktɪv/
disposed to seek revenge or intended for revenge
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
in or at the place that
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
belonging to which person
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
morally bad in principle or practice
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
zigzaggedverbUS /ˈzɪɡzæɡd/
inflected form of “zigzag” — travel along a zigzag path
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
