used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was one of the early days of a genuine Russian winter.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “There shall be no more snow, No weary, wandering feet.”
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It was one of the early days of a genuine Russian winter.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
dispiritedadjectiveUS /dɪˈspɪrətɪd/
marked by low spirits; showing no enthusiasm
From this reading A regiment of French infantry, weary, dispirited, and famishing with hunger, was toiling through the snow-drifts.
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 It was one of the early days of a genuine Russian winter.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
famishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A regiment of French infantry, weary, dispirited, and famishing with hunger, was toiling through the snow-drifts.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading WEARY, WANDERING FEET.
flakesnounUS /fleɪks/
plural of “flake” — a crystal of snow
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
fognounUS /fɑːɡ/
droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading A regiment of French infantry, weary, dispirited, and famishing with hunger, was toiling through the snow-drifts.
frostyadjectiveUS /ˈfrɔːsti/
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
genuineadjectiveUS /ˈdʒenjəwən/
not fake or counterfeit
From this reading It was one of the early days of a genuine Russian winter.
hungernounUS /ˈhʌŋɡər/
a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation
From this reading A regiment of French infantry, weary, dispirited, and famishing with hunger, was toiling through the snow-drifts.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
infantrynounUS /ˈɪnfəntri/
an army unit consisting of soldiers who fight on foot
From this reading A regiment of French infantry, weary, dispirited, and famishing with hunger, was toiling through the snow-drifts.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was one of the early days of a genuine Russian winter.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading “There shall be no more snow, No weary, wandering feet.”
MoscownounUS /ˈmɑːskoʊ/
a city of central European Russia; formerly capital of both the Soviet Union and Soviet Russia; since 1991 the capital of the Russian Federation
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
not any; not one
From this reading “There shall be no more snow, No weary, wandering feet.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was one of the early days of a genuine Russian winter.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was one of the early days of a genuine Russian winter.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
pierceverbUS /pɪrs/
cut or make a way through
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
subject to rigid discipline, order, and systematization
From this reading A regiment of French infantry, weary, dispirited, and famishing with hunger, was toiling through the snow-drifts.
RussiannounUS /ˈrʌʃən/
a native or inhabitant of Russia
From this reading It was one of the early days of a genuine Russian winter.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “There shall be no more snow, No weary, wandering feet.”
Smolensko
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading “There shall be no more snow, No weary, wandering feet.”
snow-drifts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A regiment of French infantry, weary, dispirited, and famishing with hunger, was toiling through the snow-drifts.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
sweepingadjectiveUS /ˈswiːpɪŋ/
taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was one of the early days of a genuine Russian winter.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “There shall be no more snow, No weary, wandering feet.”
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 vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A regiment of French infantry, weary, dispirited, and famishing with hunger, was toiling through the snow-drifts.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
toilingadjectiveUS /ˈtɔɪlɪŋ/
doing arduous or unpleasant work
From this reading A regiment of French infantry, weary, dispirited, and famishing with hunger, was toiling through the snow-drifts.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
migratory
From this reading WEARY, WANDERING FEET.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was one of the early days of a genuine Russian winter.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading WEARY, WANDERING FEET.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
a Caucasian
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading It was one of the early days of a genuine Russian winter.
wintryadjectiveUS /ˈwɪntri/
characteristic of or occurring in winter
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The vast and desolate plain between Moscow and Smolensko was white with snow; bitter winds thick with falling flakes were sweeping over it; and the wintry sun struggled in vain to pierce a dense frosty fog.
