used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CHALLENGE Filling the air with ghost-shadows, silencing earth, muffling the sea, day after day fell the snow.
adamantadjectiveUS /ˈædəmənt/
impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, reason
From this reading The river had frozen to adamant.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A CHALLENGE Filling the air with ghost-shadows, silencing earth, muffling the sea, day after day fell the snow.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading A CHALLENGE Filling the air with ghost-shadows, silencing earth, muffling the sea, day after day fell the snow.
(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 Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading No east, no west, no day, no night; nothing but a white darkness, billowing snow, and a silence as of death.
barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading Shore-ice barred out the pounding surf.
billowingadjectiveUS /ˈbɪloʊɪŋ/
characterized by great swelling waves or surges
From this reading No east, no west, no day, no night; nothing but a white darkness, billowing snow, and a silence as of death.
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
Brushwoodnoun
the wood from bushes or small branches
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading No east, no west, no day, no night; nothing but a white darkness, billowing snow, and a silence as of death.
CHALLENGEverbUS /ˈtʃæləndʒ/
take exception to
From this reading A CHALLENGE Filling the air with ghost-shadows, silencing earth, muffling the sea, day after day fell the snow.
crestnounUS /krest/
the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading No east, no west, no day, no night; nothing but a white darkness, billowing snow, and a silence as of death.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading A CHALLENGE Filling the air with ghost-shadows, silencing earth, muffling the sea, day after day fell the snow.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading No east, no west, no day, no night; nothing but a white darkness, billowing snow, and a silence as of death.
deepeningnounUS /ˈdiːpənɪŋ/
a process of becoming deeper and more profound
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
driftsnounUS /drɪfts/
plural of “drift” — a force that moves something along
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading A CHALLENGE Filling the air with ghost-shadows, silencing earth, muffling the sea, day after day fell the snow.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading No east, no west, no day, no night; nothing but a white darkness, billowing snow, and a silence as of death.
evergreensnounUS /ˈevərɡriːnz/
plural of “evergreen” — a plant having foliage that persists and remains green throughout the year
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading A CHALLENGE Filling the air with ghost-shadows, silencing earth, muffling the sea, day after day fell the snow.
FillingnounUS /ˈfɪlɪŋ/
any material that fills a space or container
From this reading A CHALLENGE Filling the air with ghost-shadows, silencing earth, muffling the sea, day after day fell the snow.
founderedverbUS /ˈfaʊndərd/
past form of “founder” — fail utterly; collapse
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/
turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold
From this reading The river had frozen to adamant.
ghost-shadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A CHALLENGE Filling the air with ghost-shadows, silencing earth, muffling the sea, day after day fell the snow.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The river had frozen to adamant.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
mufflingverbUS /ˈmʌflɪŋ/
-ing form of “muffle” — suppress in order to conceal or hide
From this reading A CHALLENGE Filling the air with ghost-shadows, silencing earth, muffling the sea, day after day fell the snow.
mushroomnounUS /ˈmʌʃruːm/
common name for an edible agaric (contrasting with the inedible toadstool)
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading No east, no west, no day, no night; nothing but a white darkness, billowing snow, and a silence as of death.
not any; not one
From this reading No east, no west, no day, no night; nothing but a white darkness, billowing snow, and a silence as of death.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading No east, no west, no day, no night; nothing but a white darkness, billowing snow, and a silence as of death.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Shore-ice barred out the pounding surf.
poundingnounUS /ˈpaʊndɪŋ/
repeated heavy blows
From this reading Shore-ice barred out the pounding surf.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The river had frozen to adamant.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading A CHALLENGE Filling the air with ghost-shadows, silencing earth, muffling the sea, day after day fell the snow.
transport commercially
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
Shore-ice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shore-ice barred out the pounding surf.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading No east, no west, no day, no night; nothing but a white darkness, billowing snow, and a silence as of death.
silencingverbUS /ˈsaɪlənsɪŋ/
-ing form of “silence” — cause to be quiet or not talk
From this reading A CHALLENGE Filling the air with ghost-shadows, silencing earth, muffling the sea, day after day fell the snow.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading A CHALLENGE Filling the air with ghost-shadows, silencing earth, muffling the sea, day after day fell the snow.
sparverbUS /spɑːr/
furnish with spars
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
surfnounUS /sɜːrf/
waves breaking on the shore
From this reading Shore-ice barred out the pounding surf.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CHALLENGE Filling the air with ghost-shadows, silencing earth, muffling the sea, day after day fell the snow.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The river had frozen to adamant.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Brushwood sank in the deepening drifts like a foundered ship, and all that remained visible of evergreens was an occasional spar or snow mushroom on the crest of a branch.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading No east, no west, no day, no night; nothing but a white darkness, billowing snow, and a silence as of death.
a Caucasian
From this reading No east, no west, no day, no night; nothing but a white darkness, billowing snow, and a silence as of death.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A CHALLENGE Filling the air with ghost-shadows, silencing earth, muffling the sea, day after day fell the snow.
