Chapter XXIII · Chapter 23

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

on or to one side

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Heysham, though uninterested, seemed equally determined, and rode well, so the long miles of grass rolled behind us.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

marked by strong resentment or cynicism

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

plural of “blizzard” — a storm with widespread snowfall accompanied by strong winds

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

a grouping of a number of similar things

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

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 However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

a dense growth of bushes

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

the residue that remains after animal fat has been rendered

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

dwell on with satisfaction

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

characterized by great determination

From this reading Heysham, though uninterested, seemed equally determined, and rode well, so the long miles of grass rolled behind us.

the state of being poorly illuminated

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

plural of “drift” — a force that moves something along

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

to the same degree (often followed by “as”)

From this reading Heysham, though uninterested, seemed equally determined, and rode well, so the long miles of grass rolled behind us.

(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading Heysham, though uninterested, seemed equally determined, and rode well, so the long miles of grass rolled behind us.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Heysham, though uninterested, seemed equally determined, and rode well, so the long miles of grass rolled behind us.

the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

plural of “level” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

in a livid manner

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Heysham, though uninterested, seemed equally determined, and rode well, so the long miles of grass rolled behind us.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading Heysham, though uninterested, seemed equally determined, and rode well, so the long miles of grass rolled behind us.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

not any; not one

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

very light colored; highly diluted with white

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

a person's partner in marriage

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

plural of “patch” — a small contrasting part of something

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

any competition

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

plural of “reed” — tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

take something away by force or without the consent of the owner

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading Heysham, though uninterested, seemed equally determined, and rode well, so the long miles of grass rolled behind us.

especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward

From this reading Heysham, though uninterested, seemed equally determined, and rode well, so the long miles of grass rolled behind us.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Heysham, though uninterested, seemed equally determined, and rode well, so the long miles of grass rolled behind us.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Heysham, though uninterested, seemed equally determined, and rode well, so the long miles of grass rolled behind us.

not in physical motion

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

successive (without a break)

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

a poor ability to understand or to profit from experience

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

a following of one thing after another in time

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

an abnormal protuberance or localized enlargement

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

a person who swindles you by means of deception or fraud

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Heysham, though uninterested, seemed equally determined, and rode well, so the long miles of grass rolled behind us.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.

in the direction of

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

not having or showing interest

From this reading Heysham, though uninterested, seemed equally determined, and rode well, so the long miles of grass rolled behind us.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

a region marking a boundary

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading Heysham, though uninterested, seemed equally determined, and rode well, so the long miles of grass rolled behind us.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The pale sun was still in the heavens, but a gray dimness crept up from the grass-land's verge toward it, against which the patches of snow gleamed lividly.

plural of “willow” — any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix

From this reading Now a copse of birches flitted past, now a clump of willows, or the tall reeds of a sloo went down with a great crackling before us, then there were more swelling levels, for our course was straight as the crow flies from horizon to horizon, and we turned aside for no obstacle.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

in the company of; together with

From this reading A RACE WITH TIME A dreary ride lay before us, for already the afternoon drew toward its close, and the light drifts were eddying under a bitter wind.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading However, I thought little about the cold, for with careless stupidity I had allowed a swindler to rob my partner, and a succession of blizzards would not have stopped me then.