Chapter XV · Chapter 15

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

gotten through environmental forces

From this reading The chaplain was on his way to Sandsgaard, with his newly acquired smile on his features.

(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 During the night there had been a few degrees of frost, and the roads, which had for a long time been nearly impassable, became all at once hard and dry.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The sky was perfectly clear, and not even the smallest cloud was to be seen which could give rise to apprehension.

fearful expectation or anticipation

From this reading The sky was perfectly clear, and not even the smallest cloud was to be seen which could give rise to apprehension.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading On the puddles lay the first ice, as thin and clear as glass, and the meadows were hoary with frost.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The sky was perfectly clear, and not even the smallest cloud was to be seen which could give rise to apprehension.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading During the night there had been a few degrees of frost, and the roads, which had for a long time been nearly impassable, became all at once hard and dry.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading During the night there had been a few degrees of frost, and the roads, which had for a long time been nearly impassable, became all at once hard and dry.

a clergyman ministering to some institution

From this reading The chaplain was on his way to Sandsgaard, with his newly acquired smile on his features.

rid of obstructions

From this reading The sky was perfectly clear, and not even the smallest cloud was to be seen which could give rise to apprehension.

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading The sky was perfectly clear, and not even the smallest cloud was to be seen which could give rise to apprehension.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The sky was perfectly clear, and not even the smallest cloud was to be seen which could give rise to apprehension.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

the last (12th) month of the year

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

plural of “degree” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading During the night there had been a few degrees of frost, and the roads, which had for a long time been nearly impassable, became all at once hard and dry.

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading During the night there had been a few degrees of frost, and the roads, which had for a long time been nearly impassable, became all at once hard and dry.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading During the night there had been a few degrees of frost, and the roads, which had for a long time been nearly impassable, became all at once hard and dry.

divisible by two

From this reading The sky was perfectly clear, and not even the smallest cloud was to be seen which could give rise to apprehension.

plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading The chaplain was on his way to Sandsgaard, with his newly acquired smile on his features.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading During the night there had been a few degrees of frost, and the roads, which had for a long time been nearly impassable, became all at once hard and dry.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading On the puddles lay the first ice, as thin and clear as glass, and the meadows were hoary with frost.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)

From this reading During the night there had been a few degrees of frost, and the roads, which had for a long time been nearly impassable, became all at once hard and dry.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading The sky was perfectly clear, and not even the smallest cloud was to be seen which could give rise to apprehension.

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading On the puddles lay the first ice, as thin and clear as glass, and the meadows were hoary with frost.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading During the night there had been a few degrees of frost, and the roads, which had for a long time been nearly impassable, became all at once hard and dry.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading During the night there had been a few degrees of frost, and the roads, which had for a long time been nearly impassable, became all at once hard and dry.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The chaplain was on his way to Sandsgaard, with his newly acquired smile on his features.

showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair

From this reading On the puddles lay the first ice, as thin and clear as glass, and the meadows were hoary with frost.

water frozen in the solid state

From this reading On the puddles lay the first ice, as thin and clear as glass, and the meadows were hoary with frost.

incapable of being passed

From this reading During the night there had been a few degrees of frost, and the roads, which had for a long time been nearly impassable, became all at once hard and dry.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

immediately past

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading On the puddles lay the first ice, as thin and clear as glass, and the meadows were hoary with frost.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading During the night there had been a few degrees of frost, and the roads, which had for a long time been nearly impassable, became all at once hard and dry.

plural of “meadow” — a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay

From this reading On the puddles lay the first ice, as thin and clear as glass, and the meadows were hoary with frost.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading During the night there had been a few degrees of frost, and the roads, which had for a long time been nearly impassable, became all at once hard and dry.

very recently

From this reading The chaplain was on his way to Sandsgaard, with his newly acquired smile on his features.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading During the night there had been a few degrees of frost, and the roads, which had for a long time been nearly impassable, became all at once hard and dry.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The sky was perfectly clear, and not even the smallest cloud was to be seen which could give rise to apprehension.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading During the night there had been a few degrees of frost, and the roads, which had for a long time been nearly impassable, became all at once hard and dry.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

on one occasion

From this reading During the night there had been a few degrees of frost, and the roads, which had for a long time been nearly impassable, became all at once hard and dry.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading The sky was perfectly clear, and not even the smallest cloud was to be seen which could give rise to apprehension.

plural of “puddle” — a mixture of wet clay and sand that can be used to line a pond and that is impervious to water when dry

From this reading On the puddles lay the first ice, as thin and clear as glass, and the meadows were hoary with frost.

move upward

From this reading The sky was perfectly clear, and not even the smallest cloud was to be seen which could give rise to apprehension.

a partly sheltered anchorage

From this reading During the night there had been a few degrees of frost, and the roads, which had for a long time been nearly impassable, became all at once hard and dry.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The chaplain was on his way to Sandsgaard, with his newly acquired smile on his features.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The sky was perfectly clear, and not even the smallest cloud was to be seen which could give rise to apprehension.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading The sky was perfectly clear, and not even the smallest cloud was to be seen which could give rise to apprehension.

superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The sky was perfectly clear, and not even the smallest cloud was to be seen which could give rise to apprehension.

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading The chaplain was on his way to Sandsgaard, with his newly acquired smile on his features.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

in or at that place or location

From this reading During the night there had been a few degrees of frost, and the roads, which had for a long time been nearly impassable, became all at once hard and dry.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading On the puddles lay the first ice, as thin and clear as glass, and the meadows were hoary with frost.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The sky was perfectly clear, and not even the smallest cloud was to be seen which could give rise to apprehension.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading The chaplain was on his way to Sandsgaard, with his newly acquired smile on his features.

the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading On the puddles lay the first ice, as thin and clear as glass, and the meadows were hoary with frost.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The sky was perfectly clear, and not even the smallest cloud was to be seen which could give rise to apprehension.

in the company of; together with

From this reading On the puddles lay the first ice, as thin and clear as glass, and the meadows were hoary with frost.

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading At last, one day well on in December, the dreadful weather seemed to have worn itself out for a time.