used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The weather had moderated to a great extent and this made the snow heavy and clinging.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The roof of the shelter was not as strong as it should have been, for the young hunters were amateurs in the construction of such an affair.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
amateursnounUS /ˈæmətɜːrz/
plural of “amateur” — someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime
From this reading The roof of the shelter was not as strong as it should have been, for the young hunters were amateurs in the construction of such an affair.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PERIL The snow continued to come down thickly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The weather had moderated to a great extent and this made the snow heavy and clinging.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The roof of the shelter was not as strong as it should have been, for the young hunters were amateurs in the construction of such an affair.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The roof of the shelter was not as strong as it should have been, for the young hunters were amateurs in the construction of such an affair.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
bendverbUS /bend/
form a curve
From this reading It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
BirchnounUS /bɜːrtʃ/
hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood
From this reading It came down on the shelter steadily until the top of Birch Tree Inn resembled the top of some large sugar-coated cake.
bravelyadverbUS /ˈbreɪvli/
in a courageous manner
From this reading It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
cakenounUS /keɪk/
a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
From this reading It came down on the shelter steadily until the top of Birch Tree Inn resembled the top of some large sugar-coated cake.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It came down on the shelter steadily until the top of Birch Tree Inn resembled the top of some large sugar-coated cake.
clingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading The weather had moderated to a great extent and this made the snow heavy and clinging.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PERIL The snow continued to come down thickly.
commencedverbUS /kəˈmenst/
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
constructionnounUS /kənˈstrʌkʃən/
the act of constructing something
From this reading The roof of the shelter was not as strong as it should have been, for the young hunters were amateurs in the construction of such an affair.
without stop or interruption
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PERIL The snow continued to come down thickly.
crackverbUS /kræk/
become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
From this reading It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PERIL The snow continued to come down thickly.
the point or degree to which something extends
From this reading The weather had moderated to a great extent and this made the snow heavy and clinging.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The roof of the shelter was not as strong as it should have been, for the young hunters were amateurs in the construction of such an affair.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The weather had moderated to a great extent and this made the snow heavy and clinging.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The weather had moderated to a great extent and this made the snow heavy and clinging.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The roof of the shelter was not as strong as it should have been, for the young hunters were amateurs in the construction of such an affair.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The weather had moderated to a great extent and this made the snow heavy and clinging.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
huntersnounUS /ˈhʌntərz/
plural of “hunter” — someone who hunts game
From this reading The roof of the shelter was not as strong as it should have been, for the young hunters were amateurs in the construction of such an affair.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The roof of the shelter was not as strong as it should have been, for the young hunters were amateurs in the construction of such an affair.
a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
From this reading It came down on the shelter steadily until the top of Birch Tree Inn resembled the top of some large sugar-coated cake.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It came down on the shelter steadily until the top of Birch Tree Inn resembled the top of some large sugar-coated cake.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It came down on the shelter steadily until the top of Birch Tree Inn resembled the top of some large sugar-coated cake.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The weather had moderated to a great extent and this made the snow heavy and clinging.
moderatedverbUS /ˈmɑːdəreɪtɪd/
past form of “moderate” — preside over
From this reading The weather had moderated to a great extent and this made the snow heavy and clinging.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The roof of the shelter was not as strong as it should have been, for the young hunters were amateurs in the construction of such an affair.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It came down on the shelter steadily until the top of Birch Tree Inn resembled the top of some large sugar-coated cake.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It came down on the shelter steadily until the top of Birch Tree Inn resembled the top of some large sugar-coated cake.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
PERILnounUS /ˈperəl/
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PERIL The snow continued to come down thickly.
resembledverbUS /rɪˈzembəld/
past form of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to
From this reading It came down on the shelter steadily until the top of Birch Tree Inn resembled the top of some large sugar-coated cake.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading The roof of the shelter was not as strong as it should have been, for the young hunters were amateurs in the construction of such an affair.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading It came down on the shelter steadily until the top of Birch Tree Inn resembled the top of some large sugar-coated cake.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The roof of the shelter was not as strong as it should have been, for the young hunters were amateurs in the construction of such an affair.
snapverbUS /snæp/
utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PERIL The snow continued to come down thickly.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It came down on the shelter steadily until the top of Birch Tree Inn resembled the top of some large sugar-coated cake.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading It came down on the shelter steadily until the top of Birch Tree Inn resembled the top of some large sugar-coated cake.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The roof of the shelter was not as strong as it should have been, for the young hunters were amateurs in the construction of such an affair.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The roof of the shelter was not as strong as it should have been, for the young hunters were amateurs in the construction of such an affair.
sugar-coatedadjective
encrusted with sugar or syrup
From this reading It came down on the shelter steadily until the top of Birch Tree Inn resembled the top of some large sugar-coated cake.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PERIL The snow continued to come down thickly.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
thicklyadverbUS /ˈθɪkli/
spoken with poor articulation as if with a thick tongue
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PERIL The snow continued to come down thickly.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The weather had moderated to a great extent and this made the snow heavy and clinging.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PERIL The snow continued to come down thickly.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
the upper part of anything
From this reading It came down on the shelter steadily until the top of Birch Tree Inn resembled the top of some large sugar-coated cake.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading It came down on the shelter steadily until the top of Birch Tree Inn resembled the top of some large sugar-coated cake.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PERIL The snow continued to come down thickly.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading It came down on the shelter steadily until the top of Birch Tree Inn resembled the top of some large sugar-coated cake.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The roof of the shelter was not as strong as it should have been, for the young hunters were amateurs in the construction of such an affair.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The weather had moderated to a great extent and this made the snow heavy and clinging.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading It held up bravely until the weight of snow became too heavy, and then it began to bend lower and lower and commenced to snap and crack, as one tree after another gave way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The roof of the shelter was not as strong as it should have been, for the young hunters were amateurs in the construction of such an affair.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The roof of the shelter was not as strong as it should have been, for the young hunters were amateurs in the construction of such an affair.
