used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "A green alder-tree in winter-time!" cried Thule.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
Ah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ah! look, here it is right before your eyes."
alder-tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A green alder-tree in winter-time!" cried Thule.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Ah! look, here it is right before your eyes."
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "A curious thing, indeed," said the dwarf; "but I chanced to see one the other night in my rambles.
caressnounUS /kərˈes/
a gentle affectionate stroking (or something resembling it)
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
chancedverbUS /tʃænst/
past form of “chance” — be the case by chance
From this reading "A curious thing, indeed," said the dwarf; "but I chanced to see one the other night in my rambles.
clumpnounUS /klʌmp/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "A green alder-tree in winter-time!" cried Thule.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading "A curious thing, indeed," said the dwarf; "but I chanced to see one the other night in my rambles.
digverbUS /dɪɡ/
turn up, loosen, or remove earth
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
dwarfnounUS /dwɔːrf/
a person who is markedly small
From this reading "A curious thing, indeed," said the dwarf; "but I chanced to see one the other night in my rambles.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Ah! look, here it is right before your eyes."
firsnounUS /fɜːrz/
plural of “fir” — nonresinous wood of a fir tree
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
forest-trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/
turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading "A green alder-tree in winter-time!" cried Thule.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Ah! look, here it is right before your eyes."
not accessible to view
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "A curious thing, indeed," said the dwarf; "but I chanced to see one the other night in my rambles.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "A green alder-tree in winter-time!" cried Thule.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading "A curious thing, indeed," said the dwarf; "but I chanced to see one the other night in my rambles.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Ah! look, here it is right before your eyes."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Ah! look, here it is right before your eyes."
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Ah! look, here it is right before your eyes."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "A curious thing, indeed," said the dwarf; "but I chanced to see one the other night in my rambles.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "A curious thing, indeed," said the dwarf; "but I chanced to see one the other night in my rambles.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "A curious thing, indeed," said the dwarf; "but I chanced to see one the other night in my rambles.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "A curious thing, indeed," said the dwarf; "but I chanced to see one the other night in my rambles.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
rambles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A curious thing, indeed," said the dwarf; "but I chanced to see one the other night in my rambles.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Ah! look, here it is right before your eyes."
rootsnounUS /ruːts/
the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "A curious thing, indeed," said the dwarf; "but I chanced to see one the other night in my rambles.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "A curious thing, indeed," said the dwarf; "but I chanced to see one the other night in my rambles.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "A curious thing, indeed," said the dwarf; "but I chanced to see one the other night in my rambles.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
a special situation
From this reading "A curious thing, indeed," said the dwarf; "but I chanced to see one the other night in my rambles.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
Thulenoun
a town in northwestern Greenland; during World War II a United States naval base was built there
From this reading "A green alder-tree in winter-time!" cried Thule.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "A curious thing, indeed," said the dwarf; "but I chanced to see one the other night in my rambles.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
at the time that
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
winter-time
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A green alder-tree in winter-time!" cried Thule.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading All the other forest-trees were dry and hard, their hearts frozen within them; but this tree was alive, hidden behind a clump of firs.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading When Thule began to dig about its roots, it seemed to come out of the ground of its own free will, and to lie over his shoulders as if it would caress him.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Ah! look, here it is right before your eyes."
