used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
(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 We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The winter had dragged by, sad and sombre, in our old country-house of Pokrovski.
cloudyadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdi/
lacking definite form or limits
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
coatingnounUS /ˈkoʊtɪŋ/
a thin layer covering something
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
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 The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
country-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter had dragged by, sad and sombre, in our old country-house of Pokrovski.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading The winter had dragged by, sad and sombre, in our old country-house of Pokrovski.
a social unit living together
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
governessnounUS /ˈɡʌvərnəs/
a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
Macha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
memoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/
Recollections of past events.
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
mourningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
many times at short intervals
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
panesnounUS /peɪnz/
plural of “pane” — sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
Pokrovski
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter had dragged by, sad and sombre, in our old country-house of Pokrovski.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/
existing or coming before
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading The winter had dragged by, sad and sombre, in our old country-house of Pokrovski.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Sonia was my younger sister.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
sombreadjective
lacking brightness or color; dull
From this reading The winter had dragged by, sad and sombre, in our old country-house of Pokrovski.
Sonia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Macha was an old family friend, who had been our governess and had brought us all up, and my memories of her, like my love for her, went as far back as my memories of myself.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
which person or people
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
windyadjectiveUS /ˈwɪndi/
abounding in or exposed to the wind or breezes
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading We were in mourning for our mother, who had died the preceding autumn, and we had spent all the winter alone in the country--Macha, Sonia and I.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The weather had been cold, and so windy that the snow was often piled high above our windows; the panes were almost always cloudy with a coating of ice; and throughout the whole season we were shut in, rarely finding it possible to go out of the house.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading Sonia was my younger sister.
