used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The head waiter fell easily into their habits, and provided them with an early breakfast and a parcel for lunch.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
apricotnounUS /ˈeɪprəkɑːt/
Asian tree having clusters of usually white blossoms and edible fruit resembling the peach
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
bitingadjectiveUS /ˈbaɪtɪŋ/
capable of wounding
From this reading Then they drove off through the biting, glittering coldness.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading The head waiter fell easily into their habits, and provided them with an early breakfast and a parcel for lunch.
coldnessnounUS /ˈkoʊldnəs/
the sensation produced by low temperatures
From this reading Then they drove off through the biting, glittering coldness.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Sometimes they went far down the valley to Sils and on to the verge of the Maloja.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading Then they drove off through the biting, glittering coldness.
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 They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading The head waiter fell easily into their habits, and provided them with an early breakfast and a parcel for lunch.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Sometimes they went far down the valley to Sils and on to the verge of the Maloja.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The head waiter fell easily into their habits, and provided them with an early breakfast and a parcel for lunch.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The head waiter fell easily into their habits, and provided them with an early breakfast and a parcel for lunch.
glaciernounUS /ˈɡleɪʃər/
a slowly moving mass of ice
From this reading Sometimes they drove through the narrower valleys to Pontresina and on into the impenetrable winter gloom of the Mortratsch glacier.
glitteringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
From this reading Then they drove off through the biting, glittering coldness.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading Sometimes they drove through the narrower valleys to Pontresina and on into the impenetrable winter gloom of the Mortratsch glacier.
plural of “habit” — an established custom
From this reading The head waiter fell easily into their habits, and provided them with an early breakfast and a parcel for lunch.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The head waiter fell easily into their habits, and provided them with an early breakfast and a parcel for lunch.
impenetrableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpenətrəbəl/
not admitting of penetration or passage into or through
From this reading Sometimes they drove through the narrower valleys to Pontresina and on into the impenetrable winter gloom of the Mortratsch glacier.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The head waiter fell easily into their habits, and provided them with an early breakfast and a parcel for lunch.
take the midday meal
From this reading The head waiter fell easily into their habits, and provided them with an early breakfast and a parcel for lunch.
Maloja
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes they went far down the valley to Sils and on to the verge of the Maloja.
become covered with mist
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
Mortratsch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes they drove through the narrower valleys to Pontresina and on into the impenetrable winter gloom of the Mortratsch glacier.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
narroweradjectiveUS /ˈneroʊər/
comparative of “narrow” — not wide
From this reading Sometimes they drove through the narrower valleys to Pontresina and on into the impenetrable winter gloom of the Mortratsch glacier.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Sometimes they went far down the valley to Sils and on to the verge of the Maloja.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Then they drove off through the biting, glittering coldness.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Sometimes they went far down the valley to Sils and on to the verge of the Maloja.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
parcelnounUS /ˈpɑːrsəl/
a wrapped container
From this reading The head waiter fell easily into their habits, and provided them with an early breakfast and a parcel for lunch.
Pontresina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes they drove through the narrower valleys to Pontresina and on into the impenetrable winter gloom of the Mortratsch glacier.
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading The head waiter fell easily into their habits, and provided them with an early breakfast and a parcel for lunch.
Sils
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes they went far down the valley to Sils and on to the verge of the Maloja.
snowdrops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes they went far down the valley to Sils and on to the verge of the Maloja.
the season of growth
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The head waiter fell easily into their habits, and provided them with an early breakfast and a parcel for lunch.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The head waiter fell easily into their habits, and provided them with an early breakfast and a parcel for lunch.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then they drove off through the biting, glittering coldness.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Then they drove off through the biting, glittering coldness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sometimes they went far down the valley to Sils and on to the verge of the Maloja.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
valleysnounUS /ˈvæliz/
plural of “valley” — a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Sometimes they drove through the narrower valleys to Pontresina and on into the impenetrable winter gloom of the Mortratsch glacier.
vergenounUS /vɜːrdʒ/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading Sometimes they went far down the valley to Sils and on to the verge of the Maloja.
waiternounUS /ˈweɪtər/
a person whose occupation is to serve at table (as in a restaurant)
From this reading The head waiter fell easily into their habits, and provided them with an early breakfast and a parcel for lunch.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
at the time that
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
a Caucasian
From this reading They went out early, before the sun was up, when the valley was an apricot mist and the mountains were as white as snowdrops in the spring.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Sometimes they drove through the narrower valleys to Pontresina and on into the impenetrable winter gloom of the Mortratsch glacier.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The head waiter fell easily into their habits, and provided them with an early breakfast and a parcel for lunch.
