used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The short southern winter drew to a close.
afloatadjectiveUS /əˈfloʊt/
aimlessly drifting
From this reading Sometimes both were swathed in heavy clouds, and the town was almost set afloat in floods of rain.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Sometimes both were swathed in heavy clouds, and the town was almost set afloat in floods of rain.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The gray of crags and houses looked bleak under the white dazzle of the mountain-wreath, and the dazzling blue of the sky.
ashenadjectiveUS /ˈæʃən/
anemic looking from illness or emotion
From this reading The vines stretched a network of dry twigs, the olive trees were ashen, the pines were black.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The vines stretched a network of dry twigs, the olive trees were ashen, the pines were black.
bleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/
offering little or no hope
From this reading The gray of crags and houses looked bleak under the white dazzle of the mountain-wreath, and the dazzling blue of the sky.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The gray of crags and houses looked bleak under the white dazzle of the mountain-wreath, and the dazzling blue of the sky.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Sometimes both were swathed in heavy clouds, and the town was almost set afloat in floods of rain.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The short southern winter drew to a close.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Sometimes both were swathed in heavy clouds, and the town was almost set afloat in floods of rain.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Everything that could fade had faded.
cragsnounUS /kræɡz/
plural of “crag” — a steep rugged rock or cliff
From this reading The gray of crags and houses looked bleak under the white dazzle of the mountain-wreath, and the dazzling blue of the sky.
dazzleverbUS /ˈdæzəl/
to cause someone to lose clear vision, especially from intense light
From this reading The gray of crags and houses looked bleak under the white dazzle of the mountain-wreath, and the dazzling blue of the sky.
dazzlingadjectiveUS /ˈdæzəlɪŋ/
amazingly impressive; suggestive of the flashing of lightning
From this reading The gray of crags and houses looked bleak under the white dazzle of the mountain-wreath, and the dazzling blue of the sky.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading The short southern winter drew to a close.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading The vines stretched a network of dry twigs, the olive trees were ashen, the pines were black.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Everything that could fade had faded.
fadeverbUS /feɪd/
become less clearly visible or distinguishable; disappear gradually or seemingly
From this reading Everything that could fade had faded.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading Everything that could fade had faded.
floodsnounUS /flʌdz/
plural of “flood” — the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading Sometimes both were swathed in heavy clouds, and the town was almost set afloat in floods of rain.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The gray of crags and houses looked bleak under the white dazzle of the mountain-wreath, and the dazzling blue of the sky.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Everything that could fade had faded.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Sometimes both were swathed in heavy clouds, and the town was almost set afloat in floods of rain.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The gray of crags and houses looked bleak under the white dazzle of the mountain-wreath, and the dazzling blue of the sky.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sometimes both were swathed in heavy clouds, and the town was almost set afloat in floods of rain.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The gray of crags and houses looked bleak under the white dazzle of the mountain-wreath, and the dazzling blue of the sky.
mountain-wreath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gray of crags and houses looked bleak under the white dazzle of the mountain-wreath, and the dazzling blue of the sky.
networknounUS /ˈnetwɜːrk/
an interconnected system of things or people
From this reading The vines stretched a network of dry twigs, the olive trees were ashen, the pines were black.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The vines stretched a network of dry twigs, the olive trees were ashen, the pines were black.
oliveadjectiveUS /ˈɑːləv/
of a yellow-green color similar to that of an unripe olive
From this reading The vines stretched a network of dry twigs, the olive trees were ashen, the pines were black.
pinesnounUS /paɪnz/
plural of “pine” — a coniferous tree
From this reading The vines stretched a network of dry twigs, the olive trees were ashen, the pines were black.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Sometimes both were swathed in heavy clouds, and the town was almost set afloat in floods of rain.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Sometimes both were swathed in heavy clouds, and the town was almost set afloat in floods of rain.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The short southern winter drew to a close.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The gray of crags and houses looked bleak under the white dazzle of the mountain-wreath, and the dazzling blue of the sky.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes both were swathed in heavy clouds, and the town was almost set afloat in floods of rain.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The short southern winter drew to a close.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading The vines stretched a network of dry twigs, the olive trees were ashen, the pines were black.
swathedverbUS /swɑːðd/
past form of “swathe” — wrap in swaddling clothes
From this reading Sometimes both were swathed in heavy clouds, and the town was almost set afloat in floods of rain.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Everything that could fade had faded.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The short southern winter drew to a close.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The short southern winter drew to a close.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Sometimes both were swathed in heavy clouds, and the town was almost set afloat in floods of rain.
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 The vines stretched a network of dry twigs, the olive trees were ashen, the pines were black.
twigsnounUS /twɪɡz/
plural of “twig” — a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year
From this reading The vines stretched a network of dry twigs, the olive trees were ashen, the pines were black.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The gray of crags and houses looked bleak under the white dazzle of the mountain-wreath, and the dazzling blue of the sky.
vinesnounUS /vaɪnz/
plural of “vine” — a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
From this reading The vines stretched a network of dry twigs, the olive trees were ashen, the pines were black.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sometimes both were swathed in heavy clouds, and the town was almost set afloat in floods of rain.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The vines stretched a network of dry twigs, the olive trees were ashen, the pines were black.
a Caucasian
From this reading The gray of crags and houses looked bleak under the white dazzle of the mountain-wreath, and the dazzling blue of the sky.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The short southern winter drew to a close.
