used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an old-fashioned, many-pillared structure.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading From the main road it was scarcely discernible, settled, as it was, behind a row of pine trees, which in the night wind beat and tossed mournfully.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading From the main road it was scarcely discernible, settled, as it was, behind a row of pine trees, which in the night wind beat and tossed mournfully.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading From the main road it was scarcely discernible, settled, as it was, behind a row of pine trees, which in the night wind beat and tossed mournfully.
blizzardnounUS /ˈblɪzərd/
a storm with widespread snowfall accompanied by strong winds
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
browsnounUS /braʊz/
plural of “brow” — the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading In the front room, which faced the porch, sat a man,--a tall, thin man, with straight, long jaws, and heavy overhanging brows.
creakingnounUS /ˈkriːkɪŋ/
a squeaking sound
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
a female human offspring
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
discernibleadjectiveUS /dɪˈsɜːrnəbəl/
perceptible by the senses or intellect
From this reading From the main road it was scarcely discernible, settled, as it was, behind a row of pine trees, which in the night wind beat and tossed mournfully.
earmarksnounUS /ˈɪrmɑːrks/
plural of “earmark” — identification mark on the ear of a domestic animal
From this reading The earmarks of hard winters and the fierce suns of summer were upon it.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading In the front room, which faced the porch, sat a man,--a tall, thin man, with straight, long jaws, and heavy overhanging brows.
farmhousenounUS /ˈfɑːrmhaʊs/
house for a farmer and family
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading The earmarks of hard winters and the fierce suns of summer were upon it.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading In the front room, which faced the porch, sat a man,--a tall, thin man, with straight, long jaws, and heavy overhanging brows.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The earmarks of hard winters and the fierce suns of summer were upon it.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an old-fashioned, many-pillared structure.
jawsnounUS /dʒɔːz/
plural of “jaw” — the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth
From this reading In the front room, which faced the porch, sat a man,--a tall, thin man, with straight, long jaws, and heavy overhanging brows.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
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 In the front room, which faced the porch, sat a man,--a tall, thin man, with straight, long jaws, and heavy overhanging brows.
most important element
From this reading From the main road it was scarcely discernible, settled, as it was, behind a row of pine trees, which in the night wind beat and tossed mournfully.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading In the front room, which faced the porch, sat a man,--a tall, thin man, with straight, long jaws, and heavy overhanging brows.
many-pillared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an old-fashioned, many-pillared structure.
mournfullyadverb
in a mournful manner
From this reading From the main road it was scarcely discernible, settled, as it was, behind a row of pine trees, which in the night wind beat and tossed mournfully.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading From the main road it was scarcely discernible, settled, as it was, behind a row of pine trees, which in the night wind beat and tossed mournfully.
northernadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrðərn/
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The earmarks of hard winters and the fierce suns of summer were upon it.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading It was an old-fashioned, many-pillared structure.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
overhangingverbUS /ˈoʊvərhæŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “overhang” — project over
From this reading In the front room, which faced the porch, sat a man,--a tall, thin man, with straight, long jaws, and heavy overhanging brows.
pinenounUS /paɪn/
a coniferous tree
From this reading From the main road it was scarcely discernible, settled, as it was, behind a row of pine trees, which in the night wind beat and tossed mournfully.
porchnounUS /pɔːrtʃ/
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading In the front room, which faced the porch, sat a man,--a tall, thin man, with straight, long jaws, and heavy overhanging brows.
rearedverbUS /rɪrd/
past form of “rear” — stand up on the hind legs, of quadrupeds
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading From the main road it was scarcely discernible, settled, as it was, behind a row of pine trees, which in the night wind beat and tossed mournfully.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In the front room, which faced the porch, sat a man,--a tall, thin man, with straight, long jaws, and heavy overhanging brows.
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading From the main road it was scarcely discernible, settled, as it was, behind a row of pine trees, which in the night wind beat and tossed mournfully.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading In the front room, which faced the porch, sat a man,--a tall, thin man, with straight, long jaws, and heavy overhanging brows.
only a very short time before
From this reading From the main road it was scarcely discernible, settled, as it was, behind a row of pine trees, which in the night wind beat and tossed mournfully.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading From the main road it was scarcely discernible, settled, as it was, behind a row of pine trees, which in the night wind beat and tossed mournfully.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
successive (without a break)
From this reading In the front room, which faced the porch, sat a man,--a tall, thin man, with straight, long jaws, and heavy overhanging brows.
structurenounUS /ˈstrʌktʃər/
a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts
From this reading It was an old-fashioned, many-pillared structure.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The earmarks of hard winters and the fierce suns of summer were upon it.
sunsnounUS /sʌnz/
plural of “sun” — the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The earmarks of hard winters and the fierce suns of summer were upon it.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading In the front room, which faced the porch, sat a man,--a tall, thin man, with straight, long jaws, and heavy overhanging brows.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The earmarks of hard winters and the fierce suns of summer were upon it.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading In the front room, which faced the porch, sat a man,--a tall, thin man, with straight, long jaws, and heavy overhanging brows.
tossedverbUS /tɔːst/
past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading From the main road it was scarcely discernible, settled, as it was, behind a row of pine trees, which in the night wind beat and tossed mournfully.
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 From the main road it was scarcely discernible, settled, as it was, behind a row of pine trees, which in the night wind beat and tossed mournfully.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The earmarks of hard winters and the fierce suns of summer were upon it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was an old-fashioned, many-pillared structure.
weather-beatenadjective
tanned and coarsened from being outdoors
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The earmarks of hard winters and the fierce suns of summer were upon it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading From the main road it was scarcely discernible, settled, as it was, behind a row of pine trees, which in the night wind beat and tossed mournfully.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading From the main road it was scarcely discernible, settled, as it was, behind a row of pine trees, which in the night wind beat and tossed mournfully.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading FATHER AND DAUGHTER On a hill, reared back from a northern lake, stood a weather-beaten farmhouse, creaking in a heavy winter blizzard.
wintersnounUS /ˈwɪntərz/
plural of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The earmarks of hard winters and the fierce suns of summer were upon it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the front room, which faced the porch, sat a man,--a tall, thin man, with straight, long jaws, and heavy overhanging brows.
