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Hawtrey's Deputy
Hawtrey's Deputy

Chapter III

Cover illustration for Hawtrey's Deputy
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SALLY TAKES CHARGE.
The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.
Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.
It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.
A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Hawtrey's Deputy

Chapter III

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SALLY TAKES CHARGE.
Line 2
The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.
Line 3
Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.
Line 4
It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.
Line 5
A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.”

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.”

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.”

Athwart noun US /ˈathwart/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.”

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.”

Bitterly adverb US /ˈbɪtərli/

in a way that shows deep pain or grief

From this reading “The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.”

Struck noun US /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.”

Wilderness noun US /ˈwɪldərnəs/

a wild area where few people live

From this reading “It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.”

All words in this reading · 90

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

athwartnounUS /ˈathwart/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

away

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

From this reading The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

barn

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

From this reading The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

beat

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

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

belts

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

bitterlyadverbUS /ˈbɪtərli/

in a way that shows deep pain or grief

From this reading The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

blue-grey

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

CHARGE

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

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE.

clear

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

From this reading The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

cold

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

From this reading The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

coppery

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

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

Creighton

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

From this reading The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

crunch

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

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

cutting

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

dimly

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

drove

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

From this reading The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

drums

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

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

dully

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

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

empty

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

engirdled

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

few

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

foreground

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

frost

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

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

gleamed

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

half-moon

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

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

Hawtrey

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

From this reading The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

hoofs

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

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

hung

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

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

Lander's

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

lay

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

like

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

lingered

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

low

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

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

mettlesome

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

minutes

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

muffled

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

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

night

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

From this reading The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

prairie

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

rang

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

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

red

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

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

roll

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

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

runners

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

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

SALLY

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

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

sledge

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

smear

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

snow

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

sound

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

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

steel

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

sting

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

strucknounUS /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

stubble

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

Stukely's

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

From this reading The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

swung

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

TAKES

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

From this reading SALLY TAKES CHARGE.

team

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

there

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

From this reading A half-moon hung low above it, coppery red with frost, and there was no sound but the crunch beneath the runners, and the beat of hoofs that rang dully through the silence like a roll of muffled drums.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

thrust

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

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

trail

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

unusually

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The night was clear and bitterly cold when Hawtrey and Sally Creighton drove away from Stukely's barn.

white

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/

a wild area where few people live

From this reading It was--for Lander's lay behind them with the snow among the stubble belts that engirdled it--an empty wilderness the mettlesome team swung across, and during the first few minutes the cold struck through them with a sting like the thrust of steel.

Winter

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.

year

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

From this reading Winter had lingered unusually long that year, and the prairie gleamed dimly white, with the sledge trail cutting athwart it, a smear of blue-grey, in the foreground.