used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading The day had been one of April; gusty, with a few occasional flakes of snow; which, in the afternoon, enveloped the upper mountains in clouds.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Shortly afterwards we heard the roll of thunder, and looking toward the valley, found it all enveloped in a thunder-storm.
(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 Shortly afterwards we heard the roll of thunder, and looking toward the valley, found it all enveloped in a thunder-storm.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading We watched them anxiously, as now we dreaded a snow storm.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading The day had been one of April; gusty, with a few occasional flakes of snow; which, in the afternoon, enveloped the upper mountains in clouds.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
AscendingadjectiveUS /əˈsendɪŋ/
moving or going or growing upward
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The day had been one of April; gusty, with a few occasional flakes of snow; which, in the afternoon, enveloped the upper mountains in clouds.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading The day had been one of April; gusty, with a few occasional flakes of snow; which, in the afternoon, enveloped the upper mountains in clouds.
consolationnounUS /ˌkɑːnsəˈleɪʃən/
the comfort you feel when consoled in times of disappointment
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The day had been one of April; gusty, with a few occasional flakes of snow; which, in the afternoon, enveloped the upper mountains in clouds.
day'snounUS /deɪz/
possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
doubtfuladjectiveUS /ˈdaʊtfəl/
open to doubt or suspicion
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
dreadedadjectiveUS /ˈdredɪd/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading We watched them anxiously, as now we dreaded a snow storm.
envelopedverbUS /enˈveləpt/
past form of “envelop” — enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering
From this reading The day had been one of April; gusty, with a few occasional flakes of snow; which, in the afternoon, enveloped the upper mountains in clouds.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
flakesnounUS /fleɪks/
plural of “flake” — a crystal of snow
From this reading The day had been one of April; gusty, with a few occasional flakes of snow; which, in the afternoon, enveloped the upper mountains in clouds.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
set up or found
From this reading Shortly afterwards we heard the roll of thunder, and looking toward the valley, found it all enveloped in a thunder-storm.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
gustyadjectiveUS /ˈɡʌsti/
blowing in puffs or short intermittent blasts
From this reading The day had been one of April; gusty, with a few occasional flakes of snow; which, in the afternoon, enveloped the upper mountains in clouds.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Shortly afterwards we heard the roll of thunder, and looking toward the valley, found it all enveloped in a thunder-storm.
heavieradjectiveUS /ˈheviər/
comparative of “heavy” — of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The day had been one of April; gusty, with a few occasional flakes of snow; which, in the afternoon, enveloped the upper mountains in clouds.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Shortly afterwards we heard the roll of thunder, and looking toward the valley, found it all enveloped in a thunder-storm.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Shortly afterwards we heard the roll of thunder, and looking toward the valley, found it all enveloped in a thunder-storm.
march in a procession
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading The day had been one of April; gusty, with a few occasional flakes of snow; which, in the afternoon, enveloped the upper mountains in clouds.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading We watched them anxiously, as now we dreaded a snow storm.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading The day had been one of April; gusty, with a few occasional flakes of snow; which, in the afternoon, enveloped the upper mountains in clouds.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The day had been one of April; gusty, with a few occasional flakes of snow; which, in the afternoon, enveloped the upper mountains in clouds.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The day had been one of April; gusty, with a few occasional flakes of snow; which, in the afternoon, enveloped the upper mountains in clouds.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
with speed
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
move by turning over or rotating
From this reading Shortly afterwards we heard the roll of thunder, and looking toward the valley, found it all enveloped in a thunder-storm.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
for a short time
From this reading Shortly afterwards we heard the roll of thunder, and looking toward the valley, found it all enveloped in a thunder-storm.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
spotsnounUS /spɑːts/
spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading We watched them anxiously, as now we dreaded a snow storm.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading We watched them anxiously, as now we dreaded a snow storm.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading Shortly afterwards we heard the roll of thunder, and looking toward the valley, found it all enveloped in a thunder-storm.
thunder-storm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortly afterwards we heard the roll of thunder, and looking toward the valley, found it all enveloped in a thunder-storm.
timbernounUS /ˈtɪmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Shortly afterwards we heard the roll of thunder, and looking toward the valley, found it all enveloped in a thunder-storm.
tracedverbUS /treɪst/
past form of “trace” — follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
From this reading Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation to see that the mountain descended rapidly.
the topmost one of two
From this reading The day had been one of April; gusty, with a few occasional flakes of snow; which, in the afternoon, enveloped the upper mountains in clouds.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Shortly afterwards we heard the roll of thunder, and looking toward the valley, found it all enveloped in a thunder-storm.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading We watched them anxiously, as now we dreaded a snow storm.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
in or at the place that
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The day had been one of April; gusty, with a few occasional flakes of snow; which, in the afternoon, enveloped the upper mountains in clouds.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
but in spite of that
From this reading "We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open spots.
