used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading Drifts were piled in the streets; they were frozen and padded as with a carpet, and the sound of sleigh-bells rang muffled in the distance.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
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 The cold was intense.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Drifts were piled in the streets; they were frozen and padded as with a carpet, and the sound of sleigh-bells rang muffled in the distance.
DriftsnounUS /drɪfts/
plural of “drift” — a force that moves something along
From this reading Drifts were piled in the streets; they were frozen and padded as with a carpet, and the sound of sleigh-bells rang muffled in the distance.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
dropsnounUS /drɑːps/
plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
featheryadjectiveUS /ˈfeðəri/
resembling or suggesting a feather or feathers
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
flakesnounUS /fleɪks/
plural of “flake” — a crystal of snow
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
flingingverbUS /ˈflɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/
turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold
From this reading Drifts were piled in the streets; they were frozen and padded as with a carpet, and the sound of sleigh-bells rang muffled in the distance.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
gustsnounUS /ɡʌsts/
plural of “gust” — a strong current of air
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
an old word meaning “to this place”
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading The cold was intense.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was snowing steadily.
madnessnounUS /ˈmædnəs/
obsolete terms for legal insanity
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
mazenounUS /meɪz/
complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading Drifts were piled in the streets; they were frozen and padded as with a carpet, and the sound of sleigh-bells rang muffled in the distance.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Drifts were piled in the streets; they were frozen and padded as with a carpet, and the sound of sleigh-bells rang muffled in the distance.
paddedadjectiveUS /ˈpædɪd/
softened by the addition of cushions or padding
From this reading Drifts were piled in the streets; they were frozen and padded as with a carpet, and the sound of sleigh-bells rang muffled in the distance.
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading Drifts were piled in the streets; they were frozen and padded as with a carpet, and the sound of sleigh-bells rang muffled in the distance.
raidedverbUS /ˈreɪdɪd/
past form of “raid” — search without warning, make a sudden surprise attack on
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading Drifts were piled in the streets; they were frozen and padded as with a carpet, and the sound of sleigh-bells rang muffled in the distance.
riotnounUS /ˈraɪət/
a public act of violence by an unruly mob
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
shriekingnounUS /ˈʃriːkɪŋ/
sharp piercing cry
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
shroudedverbUS /ˈʃraʊdɪd/
past form of “shroud” — cover as if with a shroud
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
sleigh-bells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Drifts were piled in the streets; they were frozen and padded as with a carpet, and the sound of sleigh-bells rang muffled in the distance.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
snowingverbUS /ˈsnoʊɪŋ/
-ing form of “snow” — fall as snow
From this reading It was snowing steadily.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Drifts were piled in the streets; they were frozen and padded as with a carpet, and the sound of sleigh-bells rang muffled in the distance.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading It was snowing steadily.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Drifts were piled in the streets; they were frozen and padded as with a carpet, and the sound of sleigh-bells rang muffled in the distance.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Drifts were piled in the streets; they were frozen and padded as with a carpet, and the sound of sleigh-bells rang muffled in the distance.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
an old word meaning “to that place”
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
a garment that covers the head and face
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was snowing steadily.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Drifts were piled in the streets; they were frozen and padded as with a carpet, and the sound of sleigh-bells rang muffled in the distance.
a Caucasian
From this reading The drops came so thick and so fast that the city was shrouded as in a great white veil, falling from the sky to the earth.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading It was night and dark, with a bitter wind that came shrieking about the corners, blowing the snow, as it fell, into a riot of feathery flakes; sudden gusts that raided the drifts, driving the white maze hither and thither, flinging it up and away in a very fury of madness.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Drifts were piled in the streets; they were frozen and padded as with a carpet, and the sound of sleigh-bells rang muffled in the distance.
