used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A VISIT.
alternateadjectiveUS /ˈɔːltərnət/
every second one of a series
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Kathie asked, one bright Saturday morning.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Kathie asked, one bright Saturday morning.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
rid of obstructions
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "DO you think we could go to Middleville to-day?"
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "If you did not mind the cold.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "DO you think we could go to Middleville to-day?"
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
freezingnounUS /ˈfriːzɪŋ/
the withdrawal of heat to change something from a liquid to a solid
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "DO you think we could go to Middleville to-day?"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If you did not mind the cold.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
Kathie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kathie asked, one bright Saturday morning.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
Middleville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "DO you think we could go to Middleville to-day?"
midwinter'snounUS /ˈmɪˈdwɪntərz/
possessive form of “midwinter” — the middle of winter
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading "If you did not mind the cold.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Kathie asked, one bright Saturday morning.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "If you did not mind the cold.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Kathie asked, one bright Saturday morning.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Kathie asked, one bright Saturday morning.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
sleighing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
steelyadjectiveUS /ˈstiːli/
resembling steel as in hardness
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
thawingnounUS /ˈθɔːɪŋ/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "DO you think we could go to Middleville to-day?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "DO you think we could go to Middleville to-day?"
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "DO you think we could go to Middleville to-day?"
tolerablyadverb
in an acceptable (but not outstanding) manner
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading A VISIT.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "DO you think we could go to Middleville to-day?"
winter'snounUS /ˈwɪntərz/
possessive form of “winter” — 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 a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading It was a sharp, keen winter's day, but the roads had been worn tolerably smooth with the sleighing, and it was by far too cold for alternate freezing and thawing; but the sky was of a clear, steely blue, and the sun as brilliant as a midwinter's sun could be.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "DO you think we could go to Middleville to-day?"
