adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
agonynounUS /ˈæɡ.ə.ni/
Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Dusk came early, and howling darkness that hid a muffled figure on the ice-bound road staring at the yellow cracks in the tannery door.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
bearingnounUS /ˈberɪŋ/
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
boughsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
brokeadjectiveUS /broʊk/
lacking funds
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Dusk came early, and howling darkness that hid a muffled figure on the ice-bound road staring at the yellow cracks in the tannery door.
centre-chimneys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
chapternounUS /ˈtʃæptər/
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
Coniston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
cracksnounUS /kræks/
plural of “crack” — a long narrow opening
From this reading Dusk came early, and howling darkness that hid a muffled figure on the ice-bound road staring at the yellow cracks in the tannery door.
crossedadjectiveUS /krɔːst/
placed crosswise
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Dusk came early, and howling darkness that hid a muffled figure on the ice-bound road staring at the yellow cracks in the tannery door.
dawnedverbUS /dɔːnd/
past form of “dawn” — become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Dusk came early, and howling darkness that hid a muffled figure on the ice-bound road staring at the yellow cracks in the tannery door.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
DusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading Dusk came early, and howling darkness that hid a muffled figure on the ice-bound road staring at the yellow cracks in the tannery door.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Dusk came early, and howling darkness that hid a muffled figure on the ice-bound road staring at the yellow cracks in the tannery door.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Dusk came early, and howling darkness that hid a muffled figure on the ice-bound road staring at the yellow cracks in the tannery door.
flyingadjectiveUS /ˈflaɪɪŋ/
moving swiftly
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
hidverbUS /hɪd/
inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading Dusk came early, and howling darkness that hid a muffled figure on the ice-bound road staring at the yellow cracks in the tannery door.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
hissingnounUS /ˈhɪsɪŋ/
a fricative sound (especially as an expression of disapproval)
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
historynounUS /ˈhɪstəri/
the aggregate of past events
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
hoodnounUS /hʊd/
an aggressive and violent young criminal
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
howlingnounUS /ˈhaʊlɪŋ/
a long loud emotional utterance
From this reading Dusk came early, and howling darkness that hid a muffled figure on the ice-bound road staring at the yellow cracks in the tannery door.
ice-bound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dusk came early, and howling darkness that hid a muffled figure on the ice-bound road staring at the yellow cracks in the tannery door.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
influencenounUS /ˈɪnfluːəns/
a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
Jethro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Jethro!"
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
meetingnounUS /ˈmiːtɪŋ/
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
momentousadjectiveUS /moʊˈmentəs/
of very great significance
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
MondaynounUS /ˈmʌndi/
the second day of the week; the first working day
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading Dusk came early, and howling darkness that hid a muffled figure on the ice-bound road staring at the yellow cracks in the tannery door.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Dusk came early, and howling darkness that hid a muffled figure on the ice-bound road staring at the yellow cracks in the tannery door.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
PresentlyadverbUS /ˈprezəntli/
in the near future
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
releasedverbUS /riˈliːst/
past form of “release” — release, as from one's grip
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
rememberedverbUS /rɪˈmembərd/
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
revealedverbUS /rɪˈviːld/
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
roadnounUS /roʊd/
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Dusk came early, and howling darkness that hid a muffled figure on the ice-bound road staring at the yellow cracks in the tannery door.
shaftnounUS /ʃæft/
a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
shotnounUS /ʃɑːt/
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
sleetnounUS /sliːt/
partially melted snow (or a mixture of rain and snow)
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
staringadjectiveUS /ˈsterɪŋ/
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading Dusk came early, and howling darkness that hid a muffled figure on the ice-bound road staring at the yellow cracks in the tannery door.
statenounUS /steɪt/
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
stormverbUS /stɔːrm/
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
tannerynoun
workplace where skins and hides are tanned
From this reading Dusk came early, and howling darkness that hid a muffled figure on the ice-bound road staring at the yellow cracks in the tannery door.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
throatsnounUS /θroʊts/
plural of “throat” — the passage to the stomach and lungs; in the front part of the neck below the chin and above the collarbone
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
townnounUS /taʊn/
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
treesnounUS /triːz/
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And now we must go back for a chapter--a very short chapter--to the day before that town meeting which had so momentous an influence upon the history of Coniston and of the state.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
wideadjectiveUS /waɪd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading That Monday, too, it will be remembered, dawned in storm, the sleet hissing in the wide throats of the centre-chimneys, and bearing down great boughs of trees until they broke in agony.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
yardnounUS /jɑːrd/
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Presently the figure crossed the yard; the door, flying open, released a shaft of light that shot across the white ground, revealed a face beneath a hood to him who stood within.
yellowadjectiveUS /ˈjeloʊ/
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading Dusk came early, and howling darkness that hid a muffled figure on the ice-bound road staring at the yellow cracks in the tannery door.
