used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Around the stove were gathered a group of girls who had hushed their voices at her entrance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was at the piano, waiting for the bell to ring that should give the signal for morning prayers.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading She was at the piano, waiting for the bell to ring that should give the signal for morning prayers.
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE dreary weather was not gone by the next morning.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading "OUR CHURCH."
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading THE dreary weather was not gone by the next morning.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading Around the stove were gathered a group of girls who had hushed their voices at her entrance.
flakesnounUS /fleɪks/
plural of “flake” — a crystal of snow
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She was at the piano, waiting for the bell to ring that should give the signal for morning prayers.
brought together in one place
From this reading Around the stove were gathered a group of girls who had hushed their voices at her entrance.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Around the stove were gathered a group of girls who had hushed their voices at her entrance.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading She was at the piano, waiting for the bell to ring that should give the signal for morning prayers.
destroyed or killed
From this reading THE dreary weather was not gone by the next morning.
gottenverbUS /ˈɡɑːtən/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading Around the stove were gathered a group of girls who had hushed their voices at her entrance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Around the stove were gathered a group of girls who had hushed their voices at her entrance.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
hushedadjectiveUS /hʌʃt/
in a softened tone
From this reading Around the stove were gathered a group of girls who had hushed their voices at her entrance.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE dreary weather was not gone by the next morning.
music-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
music-teacher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE dreary weather was not gone by the next morning.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE dreary weather was not gone by the next morning.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
ominousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːmənəs/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "OUR CHURCH."
pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/
a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
From this reading She was at the piano, waiting for the bell to ring that should give the signal for morning prayers.
plural of “prayer” — the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading She was at the piano, waiting for the bell to ring that should give the signal for morning prayers.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading She was at the piano, waiting for the bell to ring that should give the signal for morning prayers.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was at the piano, waiting for the bell to ring that should give the signal for morning prayers.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading She was at the piano, waiting for the bell to ring that should give the signal for morning prayers.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading She was at the piano, waiting for the bell to ring that should give the signal for morning prayers.
signalsnounUS /ˈsɪɡnəlz/
plural of “signal” — any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
stovenounUS /stoʊv/
a kitchen appliance used for cooking food
From this reading Around the stove were gathered a group of girls who had hushed their voices at her entrance.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was at the piano, waiting for the bell to ring that should give the signal for morning prayers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE dreary weather was not gone by the next morning.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was at the piano, waiting for the bell to ring that should give the signal for morning prayers.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Around the stove were gathered a group of girls who had hushed their voices at her entrance.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading She was at the piano, waiting for the bell to ring that should give the signal for morning prayers.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE dreary weather was not gone by the next morning.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading THE dreary weather was not gone by the next morning.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
which person or people
From this reading Around the stove were gathered a group of girls who had hushed their voices at her entrance.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading A keen wind was blowing, and ominous flakes of snow were fluttering their signals in the air; but the music-room was warm, and the music-teacher herself had gotten above the weather.
