used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The trail soon became obliterated and their eyes began to play tricks.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Of course it was cold, for the wind off the open sea was damp, but they were not men to turn back.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The trail soon became obliterated and their eyes began to play tricks.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The trail soon became obliterated and their eyes began to play tricks.
blendedadjectiveUS /ˈblendɪd/
combined or mixed together so that the constituent parts are indistinguishable
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Of course it was cold, for the wind off the open sea was damp, but they were not men to turn back.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading Noon found them floundering through one of those unheralded storms which make coast travel so hazardous.
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 Of course it was cold, for the wind off the open sea was damp, but they were not men to turn back.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course it was cold, for the wind off the open sea was damp, but they were not men to turn back.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading Of course it was cold, for the wind off the open sea was damp, but they were not men to turn back.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
distinguishverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/
mark as different
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The trail soon became obliterated and their eyes began to play tricks.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
flounderingverbUS /ˈflaʊndərɪŋ/
-ing form of “flounder” — walk with great difficulty
From this reading Noon found them floundering through one of those unheralded storms which make coast travel so hazardous.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
set up or found
From this reading Noon found them floundering through one of those unheralded storms which make coast travel so hazardous.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
hazardousadjectiveUS /ˈhæzərdəs/
involving risk or danger
From this reading Noon found them floundering through one of those unheralded storms which make coast travel so hazardous.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
huenounUS /hjuː/
the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
leadenadjectiveUS /ˈledən/
darkened with overcast
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
engage in
From this reading Noon found them floundering through one of those unheralded storms which make coast travel so hazardous.
measuresnounUS /ˈmeʒərz/
plural of “measure” — any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
the force of workers available
From this reading Of course it was cold, for the wind off the open sea was damp, but they were not men to turn back.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
not any; not one
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
the middle of the day
From this reading Noon found them floundering through one of those unheralded storms which make coast travel so hazardous.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Of course it was cold, for the wind off the open sea was damp, but they were not men to turn back.
obliteratedadjectiveUS /əˈblɪtəreɪtɪd/
reduced to nothingness
From this reading The trail soon became obliterated and their eyes began to play tricks.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Noon found them floundering through one of those unheralded storms which make coast travel so hazardous.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Noon found them floundering through one of those unheralded storms which make coast travel so hazardous.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Of course it was cold, for the wind off the open sea was damp, but they were not men to turn back.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
participate in games or sport
From this reading The trail soon became obliterated and their eyes began to play tricks.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Of course it was cold, for the wind off the open sea was damp, but they were not men to turn back.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Noon found them floundering through one of those unheralded storms which make coast travel so hazardous.
in the near future
From this reading The trail soon became obliterated and their eyes began to play tricks.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
stormsnounUS /stɔːrmz/
plural of “storm” — a violent weather condition with winds 64-72 knots (11 on the Beaufort scale) and precipitation and thunder and lightning
From this reading Noon found them floundering through one of those unheralded storms which make coast travel so hazardous.
suspendedadjectiveUS /səˈspendɪd/
(of undissolved particles in a fluid) supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy and without apparent attachment
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The trail soon became obliterated and their eyes began to play tricks.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Noon found them floundering through one of those unheralded storms which make coast travel so hazardous.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Noon found them floundering through one of those unheralded storms which make coast travel so hazardous.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Noon found them floundering through one of those unheralded storms which make coast travel so hazardous.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading The trail soon became obliterated and their eyes began to play tricks.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Noon found them floundering through one of those unheralded storms which make coast travel so hazardous.
treadingverbUS /ˈtredɪŋ/
-ing form of “tread” — put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
tricksnounUS /trɪks/
plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading The trail soon became obliterated and their eyes began to play tricks.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading Of course it was cold, for the wind off the open sea was damp, but they were not men to turn back.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
underfootadverbUS /ˌʌndərˈfʊt/
under the feet
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
unheraldedadjectiveUS /ənˈherəldɪd/
without warning or announcement
From this reading Noon found them floundering through one of those unheralded storms which make coast travel so hazardous.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Of course it was cold, for the wind off the open sea was damp, but they were not men to turn back.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Noon found them floundering through one of those unheralded storms which make coast travel so hazardous.
whirlingnounUS /ˈwɜːrlɪŋ/
the act of rotating in a circle or spiral
From this reading For all they could distinguish, they might have been suspended in space; they seemed to be treading the measures of an endless dance in the center of a whirling cloud.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Of course it was cold, for the wind off the open sea was damp, but they were not men to turn back.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The morning had turned off gray, the sky was of a leaden hue which blended perfectly with the snow underfoot, there was no horizon, it was impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction.
