used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading TERRY DECIDES Christmas Eve, the large snowflakes drifted slowly down out of a windless sky.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an unusually black and lustrous pelt.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was an unusually black and lustrous pelt.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading The dusk was cheerful with the sound of sleigh bells that announced the arrival or departure of last-hour shoppers.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading The dusk was cheerful with the sound of sleigh bells that announced the arrival or departure of last-hour shoppers.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Terry, at his desk in the great living room, surveyed the finished trophy happily.
bellsnounUS /belz/
plural of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading The dusk was cheerful with the sound of sleigh bells that announced the arrival or departure of last-hour shoppers.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading It was an unusually black and lustrous pelt.
placed in a grave
From this reading He buried his face in the silky mat a moment, then drew out paper and pen, and wrote:
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading The dusk was cheerful with the sound of sleigh bells that announced the arrival or departure of last-hour shoppers.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading TERRY DECIDES Christmas Eve, the large snowflakes drifted slowly down out of a windless sky.
DECIDESverbUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdz/
third-person singular of “decide” — reach, make, or come to a decision about something
From this reading TERRY DECIDES Christmas Eve, the large snowflakes drifted slowly down out of a windless sky.
the act of departing
From this reading The dusk was cheerful with the sound of sleigh bells that announced the arrival or departure of last-hour shoppers.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Terry, at his desk in the great living room, surveyed the finished trophy happily.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading TERRY DECIDES Christmas Eve, the large snowflakes drifted slowly down out of a windless sky.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading He buried his face in the silky mat a moment, then drew out paper and pen, and wrote:
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading TERRY DECIDES Christmas Eve, the large snowflakes drifted slowly down out of a windless sky.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading The dusk was cheerful with the sound of sleigh bells that announced the arrival or departure of last-hour shoppers.
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading TERRY DECIDES Christmas Eve, the large snowflakes drifted slowly down out of a windless sky.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He buried his face in the silky mat a moment, then drew out paper and pen, and wrote:
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading Terry, at his desk in the great living room, surveyed the finished trophy happily.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Terry, at his desk in the great living room, surveyed the finished trophy happily.
happilyadverbUS /ˈhæpəli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading Terry, at his desk in the great living room, surveyed the finished trophy happily.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He buried his face in the silky mat a moment, then drew out paper and pen, and wrote:
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Terry, at his desk in the great living room, surveyed the finished trophy happily.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Terry, at his desk in the great living room, surveyed the finished trophy happily.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an unusually black and lustrous pelt.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading TERRY DECIDES Christmas Eve, the large snowflakes drifted slowly down out of a windless sky.
last-hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dusk was cheerful with the sound of sleigh bells that announced the arrival or departure of last-hour shoppers.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading Terry, at his desk in the great living room, surveyed the finished trophy happily.
lustrousadjectiveUS /ˈlʌstrəs/
made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a sheen or glow
From this reading It was an unusually black and lustrous pelt.
matnounUS /mæt/
a thick flat pad used as a floor covering
From this reading He buried his face in the silky mat a moment, then drew out paper and pen, and wrote:
a particular point in time
From this reading He buried his face in the silky mat a moment, then drew out paper and pen, and wrote:
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TERRY DECIDES Christmas Eve, the large snowflakes drifted slowly down out of a windless sky.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The dusk was cheerful with the sound of sleigh bells that announced the arrival or departure of last-hour shoppers.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading TERRY DECIDES Christmas Eve, the large snowflakes drifted slowly down out of a windless sky.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading He buried his face in the silky mat a moment, then drew out paper and pen, and wrote:
peltverbUS /pelt/
cast, hurl, or throw repeatedly with some missile
From this reading It was an unusually black and lustrous pelt.
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading He buried his face in the silky mat a moment, then drew out paper and pen, and wrote:
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Terry, at his desk in the great living room, surveyed the finished trophy happily.
shoppersnounUS /ˈʃɑːpərz/
plural of “shopper” — someone who visits stores in search of articles to buy
From this reading The dusk was cheerful with the sound of sleigh bells that announced the arrival or departure of last-hour shoppers.
silkyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlki/
having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light
From this reading He buried his face in the silky mat a moment, then drew out paper and pen, and wrote:
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading TERRY DECIDES Christmas Eve, the large snowflakes drifted slowly down out of a windless sky.
sleighnounUS /sleɪ/
a vehicle mounted on runners and pulled by horses or dogs; for transportation over snow
From this reading The dusk was cheerful with the sound of sleigh bells that announced the arrival or departure of last-hour shoppers.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading TERRY DECIDES Christmas Eve, the large snowflakes drifted slowly down out of a windless sky.
snowflakesnounUS /ˈsnoʊfleɪks/
plural of “snowflake” — a crystal of snow
From this reading TERRY DECIDES Christmas Eve, the large snowflakes drifted slowly down out of a windless sky.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The dusk was cheerful with the sound of sleigh bells that announced the arrival or departure of last-hour shoppers.
surveyedverbUS /sərˈveɪd/
past form of “survey” — consider in a comprehensive way
From this reading Terry, at his desk in the great living room, surveyed the finished trophy happily.
TERRYnounUS /ˈteri/
English actress (1847-1928)
From this reading TERRY DECIDES Christmas Eve, the large snowflakes drifted slowly down out of a windless sky.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The dusk was cheerful with the sound of sleigh bells that announced the arrival or departure of last-hour shoppers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TERRY DECIDES Christmas Eve, the large snowflakes drifted slowly down out of a windless sky.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He buried his face in the silky mat a moment, then drew out paper and pen, and wrote:
trophynounUS /ˈtroʊfi/
an award for success in war or hunting
From this reading Terry, at his desk in the great living room, surveyed the finished trophy happily.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading It was an unusually black and lustrous pelt.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The dusk was cheerful with the sound of sleigh bells that announced the arrival or departure of last-hour shoppers.
windlessadjective
without or almost without wind
From this reading TERRY DECIDES Christmas Eve, the large snowflakes drifted slowly down out of a windless sky.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The dusk was cheerful with the sound of sleigh bells that announced the arrival or departure of last-hour shoppers.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading He buried his face in the silky mat a moment, then drew out paper and pen, and wrote:
