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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
ago
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
angles
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From this reading But the gaunt angles and rigid outlines of the building remained sharp and unchanged.
any
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From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
bleached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
bleak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
blended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
cheerless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/
unpleasantly cold
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
chimneys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
climbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
difficult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
disappearednounUS /ˈdisappeared/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
drift
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
drifts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
dwarfnounUS /dwɔːrf/
in traditional stories, a small humanlike being with magical qualities
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
familiarly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
farmhouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
fence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
field
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
finely-granulated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
firs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
flakes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
foothold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
formless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
gaining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
gaunt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the gaunt angles and rigid outlines of the building remained sharp and unchanged.
glancing
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From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
granite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
gutters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
Hays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
heaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
hilly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
hollows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
hopeless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
hurled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
icy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
larches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
lighter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
merciless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
merged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
outcrop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
outlines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the gaunt angles and rigid outlines of the building remained sharp and unchanged.
Painted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
projections
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
puffs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But the gaunt angles and rigid outlines of the building remained sharp and unchanged.
ridges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
rigid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the gaunt angles and rigid outlines of the building remained sharp and unchanged.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
roadside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
roof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
scant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
shadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
shapes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the gaunt angles and rigid outlines of the building remained sharp and unchanged.
shingles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
slippery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
smokelike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
snow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
stark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
storm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
sunshine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
unbroken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
unchanged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the gaunt angles and rigid outlines of the building remained sharp and unchanged.
uncouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
usually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
vaguely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
vanished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
wave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
whirled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The storm, which had already heaped the hollows of the road with snow, hurled its finely-granulated flakes against the building, but they were whirled along the gutters and ridges, and disappeared in smokelike puffs across the icy roof.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
white-capped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
white-pine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
whitened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The granite outcrop in the hilly field beyond had long ago whitened and vanished; the dwarf firs and larches which had at first taken uncouth shapes in the drift blended vaguely together, and then merged into an unbroken formless wave.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
wind-swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was difficult to say if Hays' farmhouse, or “Hays,” as it was familiarly called, looked any more bleak and cheerless that winter afternoon than it usually did in the strong summer sunshine.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Painted a cold merciless white, with scant projections for shadows, a roof of white-pine shingles, bleached lighter through sun and wind, and covered with low, white-capped chimneys, it looked even more stark and chilly than the drifts which had climbed its low roadside fence, and yet seemed hopeless of gaining a foothold on the glancing walls, or slippery, wind-swept roof.
