Chapter VII · Chapter 7

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading They saw Parsons rushing across the square; when she came in there were flakes of snow in her hair, and her fingers were blue with cold.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading SNOW AND MIST AND SUNLIGHT The desolation of that next morning!

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading They had their breakfast brought to them in the big cold room; they took it hurriedly, with scarcely a word.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading They saw Parsons rushing across the square; when she came in there were flakes of snow in her hair, and her fingers were blue with cold.

eat an early morning meal

From this reading They had their breakfast brought to them in the big cold room; they took it hurriedly, with scarcely a word.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading They had their breakfast brought to them in the big cold room; they took it hurriedly, with scarcely a word.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading They saw Parsons rushing across the square; when she came in there were flakes of snow in her hair, and her fingers were blue with cold.

one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

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 They had their breakfast brought to them in the big cold room; they took it hurriedly, with scarcely a word.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

the state of being decayed or destroyed

From this reading SNOW AND MIST AND SUNLIGHT The desolation of that next morning!

directed downward

From this reading The girls were greatly downcast.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

a wide scope

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading They saw Parsons rushing across the square; when she came in there were flakes of snow in her hair, and her fingers were blue with cold.

plural of “flake” — a crystal of snow

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

-ing form of “front” — be oriented in a certain direction, often with respect to another reference point; be opposite to

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading The girls were greatly downcast.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

to an extraordinary extent or degree

From this reading The girls were greatly downcast.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading They had their breakfast brought to them in the big cold room; they took it hurriedly, with scarcely a word.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading They saw Parsons rushing across the square; when she came in there were flakes of snow in her hair, and her fingers were blue with cold.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading They saw Parsons rushing across the square; when she came in there were flakes of snow in her hair, and her fingers were blue with cold.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

in a hurried or hasty manner

From this reading They had their breakfast brought to them in the big cold room; they took it hurriedly, with scarcely a word.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading They had their breakfast brought to them in the big cold room; they took it hurriedly, with scarcely a word.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading They had their breakfast brought to them in the big cold room; they took it hurriedly, with scarcely a word.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

become covered with mist

From this reading SNOW AND MIST AND SUNLIGHT The desolation of that next morning!

plural of “mist” — a thin fog with condensation near the ground

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading SNOW AND MIST AND SUNLIGHT The desolation of that next morning!

immediately following in time or order

From this reading SNOW AND MIST AND SUNLIGHT The desolation of that next morning!

without a sound

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading SNOW AND MIST AND SUNLIGHT The desolation of that next morning!

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

plural of “pane” — sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

United States sociologist (1902-1979)

From this reading They saw Parsons rushing across the square; when she came in there were flakes of snow in her hair, and her fingers were blue with cold.

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

plural of “reach” — the limits within which something can be effective

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

-ing form of “retreat” — pull back or move away or backward

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading They had their breakfast brought to them in the big cold room; they took it hurriedly, with scarcely a word.

(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line

From this reading They saw Parsons rushing across the square; when she came in there were flakes of snow in her hair, and her fingers were blue with cold.

cut with a saw

From this reading They saw Parsons rushing across the square; when she came in there were flakes of snow in her hair, and her fingers were blue with cold.

only a very short time before

From this reading They had their breakfast brought to them in the big cold room; they took it hurriedly, with scarcely a word.

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They saw Parsons rushing across the square; when she came in there were flakes of snow in her hair, and her fingers were blue with cold.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading SNOW AND MIST AND SUNLIGHT The desolation of that next morning!

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

make square

From this reading They saw Parsons rushing across the square; when she came in there were flakes of snow in her hair, and her fingers were blue with cold.

the rays of the sun

From this reading SNOW AND MIST AND SUNLIGHT The desolation of that next morning!

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading SNOW AND MIST AND SUNLIGHT The desolation of that next morning!

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading SNOW AND MIST AND SUNLIGHT The desolation of that next morning!

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They had their breakfast brought to them in the big cold room; they took it hurriedly, with scarcely a word.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They had their breakfast brought to them in the big cold room; they took it hurriedly, with scarcely a word.

in or at that place or location

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They had their breakfast brought to them in the big cold room; they took it hurriedly, with scarcely a word.

a special situation

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading They had their breakfast brought to them in the big cold room; they took it hurriedly, with scarcely a word.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading They had their breakfast brought to them in the big cold room; they took it hurriedly, with scarcely a word.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The girls were greatly downcast.

at the time that

From this reading They saw Parsons rushing across the square; when she came in there were flakes of snow in her hair, and her fingers were blue with cold.

in or at the place that

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

a Caucasian

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

in the company of; together with

From this reading They had their breakfast brought to them in the big cold room; they took it hurriedly, with scarcely a word.

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading A wonder of snow outside the windows--the large dark flakes slowly, noiselessly passing the panes; snow on the open space fronting the great, gaunt hostelry; snow on the small spire of the church; and snow on the far reaches of the hills, retreating up there into the gray mists, where every pine-tree was a sharp black thing on the broad expanse of white.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading They had their breakfast brought to them in the big cold room; they took it hurriedly, with scarcely a word.