used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
(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 They all sat down to dinner together.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
blessingsnounUS /ˈblesɪŋz/
plural of “blessing” — the formal act of approving
From this reading They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "There was more love than with the stalled ox of former times, but of herbs none."
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
conflictsnounUS /kənˈflɪkts/
plural of “conflict” — an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)
From this reading They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
darkness-enshrouded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
DECEMBERnounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading They all sat down to dinner together.
discomforts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading They all sat down to dinner together.
ESQUIMO
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SEEKING THE ESQUIMO.
explorersnounUS /ɪkˈsplɔːrərz/
plural of “explorer” — someone who travels into little known regions (especially for some scientific purpose)
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading "There was more love than with the stalled ox of former times, but of herbs none."
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
health-broken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
herbsnounUS /ɜːrbz/
plural of “herb” — a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests
From this reading "There was more love than with the stalled ox of former times, but of herbs none."
where you live at a particular time
From this reading They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
hopefullyadverbUS /ˈhoʊpfəli/
with hope; in a hopeful manner
From this reading They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
ice-bound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
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 They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
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 They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading "There was more love than with the stalled ox of former times, but of herbs none."
engage in
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "There was more love than with the stalled ox of former times, but of herbs none."
not one, and not any
From this reading "There was more love than with the stalled ox of former times, but of herbs none."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "There was more love than with the stalled ox of former times, but of herbs none."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
oxnounUS /ɑːks/
an adult castrated bull of the genus Bos; especially Bos taurus
From this reading "There was more love than with the stalled ox of former times, but of herbs none."
retainedadjectiveUS /rɪˈteɪnd/
continued in your keeping or use or memory
From this reading They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading They all sat down to dinner together.
the act of searching for something
From this reading SEEKING THE ESQUIMO.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
stalledverbUS /stɔːld/
past form of “stall” — postpone doing what one should be doing
From this reading "There was more love than with the stalled ox of former times, but of herbs none."
not in physical motion
From this reading They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "There was more love than with the stalled ox of former times, but of herbs none."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SEEKING THE ESQUIMO.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They tried, at least, to forget their discomforts in the blessings they still retained, and to look hopefully on the long distance, and the many conflicts between them and their home and friends.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "There was more love than with the stalled ox of former times, but of herbs none."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They all sat down to dinner together.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading "There was more love than with the stalled ox of former times, but of herbs none."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading They all sat down to dinner together.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
twenty-fifthadjective
coming next after the twenty-fourth in position
From this reading DECEMBER twenty-fifth came, and our ice-bound, darkness-enshrouded, sick, or, in a measure, health-broken explorers tried to make it a merry Christmas.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "There was more love than with the stalled ox of former times, but of herbs none."
in the company of; together with
From this reading "There was more love than with the stalled ox of former times, but of herbs none."
