used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A greyness settled over the land, and at night the Northern Lights flared brighter in the heavens.
alarmingadjectiveUS /əˈlɑːrmɪŋ/
frightening because of an awareness of danger
From this reading The days were shortening and the nights lengthening in an alarming manner.
(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 ATONEMENT Summer passed all too soon for the miners in the valley of the Quaska.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The days were shortening and the nights lengthening in an alarming manner.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The days were shortening and the nights lengthening in an alarming manner.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A greyness settled over the land, and at night the Northern Lights flared brighter in the heavens.
ATONEMENTnounUS /əˈtoʊnmənt/
compensation for a wrong
From this reading ATONEMENT Summer passed all too soon for the miners in the valley of the Quaska.
battalionsnounUS /bəˈtæljənz/
plural of “battalion” — an army unit usually consisting of a headquarters and three or more companies
From this reading Great wedge-like battalions of wild geese honked their way southward each day until all had fled.
brighteradjectiveUS /ˈbraɪtər/
comparative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading A greyness settled over the land, and at night the Northern Lights flared brighter in the heavens.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Great wedge-like battalions of wild geese honked their way southward each day until all had fled.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The days were shortening and the nights lengthening in an alarming manner.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Great wedge-like battalions of wild geese honked their way southward each day until all had fled.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading It was quite evident to all that winter was not far off.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading It was quite evident to all that winter was not far off.
flaredverbUS /flerd/
past form of “flare” — burn brightly
From this reading A greyness settled over the land, and at night the Northern Lights flared brighter in the heavens.
inflected form of “flee” — run away quickly
From this reading Great wedge-like battalions of wild geese honked their way southward each day until all had fled.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ATONEMENT Summer passed all too soon for the miners in the valley of the Quaska.
geesenounUS /ɡiːs/
plural of “goose” — web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
From this reading Great wedge-like battalions of wild geese honked their way southward each day until all had fled.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Great wedge-like battalions of wild geese honked their way southward each day until all had fled.
greynessnoun
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading A greyness settled over the land, and at night the Northern Lights flared brighter in the heavens.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Great wedge-like battalions of wild geese honked their way southward each day until all had fled.
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading A greyness settled over the land, and at night the Northern Lights flared brighter in the heavens.
honked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great wedge-like battalions of wild geese honked their way southward each day until all had fled.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ATONEMENT Summer passed all too soon for the miners in the valley of the Quaska.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was quite evident to all that winter was not far off.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading A greyness settled over the land, and at night the Northern Lights flared brighter in the heavens.
lengtheningnounUS /ˈleŋθənɪŋ/
the act of prolonging something
From this reading The days were shortening and the nights lengthening in an alarming manner.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading A greyness settled over the land, and at night the Northern Lights flared brighter in the heavens.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The days were shortening and the nights lengthening in an alarming manner.
minersnounUS /ˈmaɪnərz/
plural of “miner” — laborer who works in a mine
From this reading ATONEMENT Summer passed all too soon for the miners in the valley of the Quaska.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A greyness settled over the land, and at night the Northern Lights flared brighter in the heavens.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading The days were shortening and the nights lengthening in an alarming manner.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading A greyness settled over the land, and at night the Northern Lights flared brighter in the heavens.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was quite evident to all that winter was not far off.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ATONEMENT Summer passed all too soon for the miners in the valley of the Quaska.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It was quite evident to all that winter was not far off.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A greyness settled over the land, and at night the Northern Lights flared brighter in the heavens.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading ATONEMENT Summer passed all too soon for the miners in the valley of the Quaska.
Quaska
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ATONEMENT Summer passed all too soon for the miners in the valley of the Quaska.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It was quite evident to all that winter was not far off.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading A greyness settled over the land, and at night the Northern Lights flared brighter in the heavens.
shorteningnounUS /ˈʃɔːrtənɪŋ/
fat such as butter or lard used in baked goods
From this reading The days were shortening and the nights lengthening in an alarming manner.
in the near future
From this reading ATONEMENT Summer passed all too soon for the miners in the valley of the Quaska.
southwardadverbUS /ˈsaʊθwərd/
toward the south
From this reading Great wedge-like battalions of wild geese honked their way southward each day until all had fled.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading ATONEMENT Summer passed all too soon for the miners in the valley of the Quaska.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was quite evident to all that winter was not far off.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ATONEMENT Summer passed all too soon for the miners in the valley of the Quaska.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Great wedge-like battalions of wild geese honked their way southward each day until all had fled.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was quite evident to all that winter was not far off.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading ATONEMENT Summer passed all too soon for the miners in the valley of the Quaska.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Great wedge-like battalions of wild geese honked their way southward each day until all had fled.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading ATONEMENT Summer passed all too soon for the miners in the valley of the Quaska.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was quite evident to all that winter was not far off.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Great wedge-like battalions of wild geese honked their way southward each day until all had fled.
wedge-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great wedge-like battalions of wild geese honked their way southward each day until all had fled.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The days were shortening and the nights lengthening in an alarming manner.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Great wedge-like battalions of wild geese honked their way southward each day until all had fled.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading It was quite evident to all that winter was not far off.
