used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A BLIZZARD A bitter wind searched the poplar bluff where George and his hired man, Grierson, were cutting fuel.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
affordedverbUS /əˈfɔːrdəd/
past form of “afford” — be able to spare or give up
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A BLIZZARD A bitter wind searched the poplar bluff where George and his hired man, Grierson, were cutting fuel.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
for the reason that
From this reading It was, however, difficult to see far, because a gray dimness narrowed in the horizon.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading A BLIZZARD A bitter wind searched the poplar bluff where George and his hired man, Grierson, were cutting fuel.
BLIZZARDnounUS /ˈblɪzərd/
a storm with widespread snowfall accompanied by strong winds
From this reading A BLIZZARD A bitter wind searched the poplar bluff where George and his hired man, Grierson, were cutting fuel.
bluffnounUS /blʌf/
a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading A BLIZZARD A bitter wind searched the poplar bluff where George and his hired man, Grierson, were cutting fuel.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading George stood, dressed in snow-flecked furs, in the center of a little clearing strewn with rows of fallen trunks from which he was hewing off the branches.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading George stood, dressed in snow-flecked furs, in the center of a little clearing strewn with rows of fallen trunks from which he was hewing off the branches.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
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 Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
cuttingnounUS /ˈkʌtɪŋ/
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading A BLIZZARD A bitter wind searched the poplar bluff where George and his hired man, Grierson, were cutting fuel.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It was, however, difficult to see far, because a gray dimness narrowed in the horizon.
dimnessnoun
the state of being poorly illuminated
From this reading It was, however, difficult to see far, because a gray dimness narrowed in the horizon.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading George stood, dressed in snow-flecked furs, in the center of a little clearing strewn with rows of fallen trunks from which he was hewing off the branches.
EdgarnounUS /ˈedɡər/
the younger brother of Edwy who became king of Northumbria when it renounced Edwy; on Edwy's death he succeeded to the throne of England (944-975)
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
apart from; not including
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading George stood, dressed in snow-flecked furs, in the center of a little clearing strewn with rows of fallen trunks from which he was hewing off the branches.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading It was, however, difficult to see far, because a gray dimness narrowed in the horizon.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading George stood, dressed in snow-flecked furs, in the center of a little clearing strewn with rows of fallen trunks from which he was hewing off the branches.
fuelverbUS /ˈfjuːəl/
provide with a combustible substance that provides energy
From this reading A BLIZZARD A bitter wind searched the poplar bluff where George and his hired man, Grierson, were cutting fuel.
fursnounUS /fɜːrz/
plural of “fur” — the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
From this reading George stood, dressed in snow-flecked furs, in the center of a little clearing strewn with rows of fallen trunks from which he was hewing off the branches.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading A BLIZZARD A bitter wind searched the poplar bluff where George and his hired man, Grierson, were cutting fuel.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading It was, however, difficult to see far, because a gray dimness narrowed in the horizon.
Grierson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BLIZZARD A bitter wind searched the poplar bluff where George and his hired man, Grierson, were cutting fuel.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading George stood, dressed in snow-flecked furs, in the center of a little clearing strewn with rows of fallen trunks from which he was hewing off the branches.
hewingverbUS /ˈhjuːɪŋ/
-ing form of “hew” — make or shape as with an axe
From this reading George stood, dressed in snow-flecked furs, in the center of a little clearing strewn with rows of fallen trunks from which he was hewing off the branches.
hiredadjectiveUS /ˈhaɪərd/
having services engaged for a fee
From this reading A BLIZZARD A bitter wind searched the poplar bluff where George and his hired man, Grierson, were cutting fuel.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A BLIZZARD A bitter wind searched the poplar bluff where George and his hired man, Grierson, were cutting fuel.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading It was, however, difficult to see far, because a gray dimness narrowed in the horizon.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It was, however, difficult to see far, because a gray dimness narrowed in the horizon.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was, however, difficult to see far, because a gray dimness narrowed in the horizon.
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
leaflessadjectiveUS /ˈliːfləs/
having no leaves
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
levelsnounUS /ˈlevəlz/
plural of “level” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A BLIZZARD A bitter wind searched the poplar bluff where George and his hired man, Grierson, were cutting fuel.
massedverbUS /mæst/
past form of “mass” — join together into a mass or collect or form a mass
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
narrowedadjectiveUS /ˈneroʊd/
reduced in size as by squeezing together
From this reading It was, however, difficult to see far, because a gray dimness narrowed in the horizon.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading George stood, dressed in snow-flecked furs, in the center of a little clearing strewn with rows of fallen trunks from which he was hewing off the branches.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
on one occasion
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
poplarnounUS /ˈpɑːplər/
soft light-colored non-durable wood of the poplar
From this reading A BLIZZARD A bitter wind searched the poplar bluff where George and his hired man, Grierson, were cutting fuel.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
rowsnounUS /roʊz/
plural of “row” — an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading George stood, dressed in snow-flecked furs, in the center of a little clearing strewn with rows of fallen trunks from which he was hewing off the branches.
only a very short time before
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
searchedverbUS /sɜːrtʃt/
past form of “search” — try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading A BLIZZARD A bitter wind searched the poplar bluff where George and his hired man, Grierson, were cutting fuel.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was, however, difficult to see far, because a gray dimness narrowed in the horizon.
intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
sledgeverbUS /sledʒ/
transport in a sleigh
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
snow-flecked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading George stood, dressed in snow-flecked furs, in the center of a little clearing strewn with rows of fallen trunks from which he was hewing off the branches.
snowyadjectiveUS /ˈsnoʊi/
marked by the presence of snow
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading George stood, dressed in snow-flecked furs, in the center of a little clearing strewn with rows of fallen trunks from which he was hewing off the branches.
strewnverbUS /struːn/
inflected form of “strew” — spread by scattering ("straw" is archaic)
From this reading George stood, dressed in snow-flecked furs, in the center of a little clearing strewn with rows of fallen trunks from which he was hewing off the branches.
teamnounUS /tiːm/
a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A BLIZZARD A bitter wind searched the poplar bluff where George and his hired man, Grierson, were cutting fuel.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
trunksnounUS /trʌŋks/
(used in the plural) trousers that end at or above the knee
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
two times
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
valleysnounUS /ˈvæliz/
plural of “valley” — a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Except in the river valleys, trees of any size are scarce on the prairie, but the slender trunks and leafless branches were closely massed and afforded a little shelter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A BLIZZARD A bitter wind searched the poplar bluff where George and his hired man, Grierson, were cutting fuel.
in or at the place that
From this reading A BLIZZARD A bitter wind searched the poplar bluff where George and his hired man, Grierson, were cutting fuel.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading George stood, dressed in snow-flecked furs, in the center of a little clearing strewn with rows of fallen trunks from which he was hewing off the branches.
which person or people
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading A BLIZZARD A bitter wind searched the poplar bluff where George and his hired man, Grierson, were cutting fuel.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Outside on the open waste, the cold was almost too severe to face, and George once or twice glanced anxiously across the snowy levels, looking for some sign of Edgar, who should have joined them with the team and sledge.
