used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Although it was early in the afternoon the sun was already sinking beneath a bank of ominous-looking clouds.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading There were little pools of ice near the pavement, the trees, leafless and stark, stood motionless against the clear sky.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Although it was early in the afternoon the sun was already sinking beneath a bank of ominous-looking clouds.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although it was early in the afternoon the sun was already sinking beneath a bank of ominous-looking clouds.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The strip of road lay clean and hard in the grip of a four days' frost.
move towards
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Although it was early in the afternoon the sun was already sinking beneath a bank of ominous-looking clouds.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Although it was early in the afternoon the sun was already sinking beneath a bank of ominous-looking clouds.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading The strip of road lay clean and hard in the grip of a four days' frost.
rid of obstructions
From this reading There were little pools of ice near the pavement, the trees, leafless and stark, stood motionless against the clear sky.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Although it was early in the afternoon the sun was already sinking beneath a bank of ominous-looking clouds.
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading This time, however, conditions were different.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The strip of road lay clean and hard in the grip of a four days' frost.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading This time, however, conditions were different.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Although it was early in the afternoon the sun was already sinking beneath a bank of ominous-looking clouds.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The strip of road lay clean and hard in the grip of a four days' frost.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
frostnounUS /frɔːst/
ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
From this reading The strip of road lay clean and hard in the grip of a four days' frost.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading The strip of road lay clean and hard in the grip of a four days' frost.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The strip of road lay clean and hard in the grip of a four days' frost.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading This time, however, conditions were different.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading There were little pools of ice near the pavement, the trees, leafless and stark, stood motionless against the clear sky.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The strip of road lay clean and hard in the grip of a four days' frost.
a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Although it was early in the afternoon the sun was already sinking beneath a bank of ominous-looking clouds.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The strip of road lay clean and hard in the grip of a four days' frost.
leaflessadjectiveUS /ˈliːfləs/
having no leaves
From this reading There were little pools of ice near the pavement, the trees, leafless and stark, stood motionless against the clear sky.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There were little pools of ice near the pavement, the trees, leafless and stark, stood motionless against the clear sky.
the force of workers available
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
not in physical motion
From this reading There were little pools of ice near the pavement, the trees, leafless and stark, stood motionless against the clear sky.
muslinnounUS /ˈmʌzlən/
plain-woven cotton fabric
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading There were little pools of ice near the pavement, the trees, leafless and stark, stood motionless against the clear sky.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
ominous-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although it was early in the afternoon the sun was already sinking beneath a bank of ominous-looking clouds.
on one occasion
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
pavementnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənt/
the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading There were little pools of ice near the pavement, the trees, leafless and stark, stood motionless against the clear sky.
poolsnounUS /puːlz/
plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading There were little pools of ice near the pavement, the trees, leafless and stark, stood motionless against the clear sky.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The strip of road lay clean and hard in the grip of a four days' frost.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading Although it was early in the afternoon the sun was already sinking beneath a bank of ominous-looking clouds.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading There were little pools of ice near the pavement, the trees, leafless and stark, stood motionless against the clear sky.
starkadjectiveUS /stɑːrk/
devoid of any qualifications or disguise or adornment
From this reading There were little pools of ice near the pavement, the trees, leafless and stark, stood motionless against the clear sky.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading There were little pools of ice near the pavement, the trees, leafless and stark, stood motionless against the clear sky.
stripverbUS /strɪp/
take away possessions from someone
From this reading The strip of road lay clean and hard in the grip of a four days' frost.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Although it was early in the afternoon the sun was already sinking beneath a bank of ominous-looking clouds.
tenantnounUS /ˈtenənt/
someone who pays rent to use land or a building or a car that is owned by someone else
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were little pools of ice near the pavement, the trees, leafless and stark, stood motionless against the clear sky.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This time, however, conditions were different.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading This time, however, conditions were different.
in the direction of
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
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 There were little pools of ice near the pavement, the trees, leafless and stark, stood motionless against the clear sky.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Although it was early in the afternoon the sun was already sinking beneath a bank of ominous-looking clouds.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Once more five men, from a safe distance behind the muslin curtains, watched the approach towards the village inn of the tenant of the Great House.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This time, however, conditions were different.
