used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Lapp-Mattes gave an echoing cry: a strange, penetrating shriek as if from the throat and the palate together.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lapp-Mattes gave an echoing cry: a strange, penetrating shriek as if from the throat and the palate together.
from appearances alone
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Lapp-Mattes gave an echoing cry: a strange, penetrating shriek as if from the throat and the palate together.
BarrenadjectiveUS /ˈbærən/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
rid of obstructions
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Lapp-Mattes gave an echoing cry: a strange, penetrating shriek as if from the throat and the palate together.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
echoingadjectiveUS /ˈekoʊɪŋ/
(of sounds) repeating by reflection
From this reading Lapp-Mattes gave an echoing cry: a strange, penetrating shriek as if from the throat and the palate together.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading One who had never heard such a sound before would have thought that Mattes yelled forth sounds and words without meaning.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading A forest that moved slowly forward.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Lapp-Mattes gave an echoing cry: a strange, penetrating shriek as if from the throat and the palate together.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Lapp-Mattes gave an echoing cry: a strange, penetrating shriek as if from the throat and the palate together.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One who had never heard such a sound before would have thought that Mattes yelled forth sounds and words without meaning.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading One who had never heard such a sound before would have thought that Mattes yelled forth sounds and words without meaning.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading One who had never heard such a sound before would have thought that Mattes yelled forth sounds and words without meaning.
helpersnounUS /ˈhelpərz/
plural of “helper” — a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
temporary military shelter
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Lapp-Mattes gave an echoing cry: a strange, penetrating shriek as if from the throat and the palate together.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
LAPLANDER'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
Lapp-Mattes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lapp-Mattes gave an echoing cry: a strange, penetrating shriek as if from the throat and the palate together.
LappsnounUS /læps/
plural of “lapp” — a member of an indigenous nomadic people living in northern Scandinavia and herding reindeer
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
MattesnounUS /mæts/
plural of “matte” — a mixture of sulfides that forms when sulfide metal ores are smelted
From this reading One who had never heard such a sound before would have thought that Mattes yelled forth sounds and words without meaning.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading One who had never heard such a sound before would have thought that Mattes yelled forth sounds and words without meaning.
a particular point in time
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
MoorverbUS /mʊr/
secure in or as if in a berth or dock
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading A forest that moved slowly forward.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading One who had never heard such a sound before would have thought that Mattes yelled forth sounds and words without meaning.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One who had never heard such a sound before would have thought that Mattes yelled forth sounds and words without meaning.
palatenounUS /ˈpælət/
the upper surface of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities
From this reading Lapp-Mattes gave an echoing cry: a strange, penetrating shriek as if from the throat and the palate together.
penetratingadjectiveUS /ˈpenətreɪtɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading Lapp-Mattes gave an echoing cry: a strange, penetrating shriek as if from the throat and the palate together.
river-bank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
shrieknounUS /ʃriːk/
sharp piercing cry
From this reading Lapp-Mattes gave an echoing cry: a strange, penetrating shriek as if from the throat and the palate together.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading A forest that moved slowly forward.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading One who had never heard such a sound before would have thought that Mattes yelled forth sounds and words without meaning.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading One who had never heard such a sound before would have thought that Mattes yelled forth sounds and words without meaning.
spurnounUS /spɜːr/
a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Lapp-Mattes gave an echoing cry: a strange, penetrating shriek as if from the throat and the palate together.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading One who had never heard such a sound before would have thought that Mattes yelled forth sounds and words without meaning.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A forest that moved slowly forward.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading One who had never heard such a sound before would have thought that Mattes yelled forth sounds and words without meaning.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading Lapp-Mattes gave an echoing cry: a strange, penetrating shriek as if from the throat and the palate together.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Lapp-Mattes gave an echoing cry: a strange, penetrating shriek as if from the throat and the palate together.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
in or at the place that
From this reading THE LAPLANDER’S HUT Before them, where the road led up the northern river-bank, already clear of snow, there was apparently a forest of dry gray branches.
which person or people
From this reading One who had never heard such a sound before would have thought that Mattes yelled forth sounds and words without meaning.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading But the Barren Moor children knew so much of the Lapps’ ways as to understand that Mattes now, in a song made up on the spur of the moment, greeted his wife, children, and helpers.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading One who had never heard such a sound before would have thought that Mattes yelled forth sounds and words without meaning.
the words that are spoken
From this reading One who had never heard such a sound before would have thought that Mattes yelled forth sounds and words without meaning.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading One who had never heard such a sound before would have thought that Mattes yelled forth sounds and words without meaning.
yelledadjectiveUS /jeld/
in a vehement outcry
From this reading One who had never heard such a sound before would have thought that Mattes yelled forth sounds and words without meaning.
