adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
abroadadverbUS /əˈbrɔːd/
to or in a foreign country
From this reading No one, unless commanded by emergency, had the temerity to be abroad that night.
accountnounUS /əˈkaʊnt/
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
BabenounUS /beɪb/
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
bareadjectiveUS /ber/
completely unclothed
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was a good night to be indoors over a roaring fire or in bed between extra blankets.
beastsnounUS /biːsts/
plural of “beast” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
bednounUS /bed/
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading It was a good night to be indoors over a roaring fire or in bed between extra blankets.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading It was a good night to be indoors over a roaring fire or in bed between extra blankets.
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
bitteradjectiveUS /ˈbɪtər/
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
blanketsnounUS /ˈblæŋkəts/
plural of “blanket” — bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading It was a good night to be indoors over a roaring fire or in bed between extra blankets.
blizzardnounUS /ˈblɪzərd/
a storm with widespread snowfall accompanied by strong winds
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
bulletsnounUS /ˈbʊləts/
plural of “bullet” — a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading No one, unless commanded by emergency, had the temerity to be abroad that night.
chaptersnounUS /ˈtʃæptərz/
plural of “chapter” — a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/
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 snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
commandedverbUS /kəˈmændɪd/
past form of “command” — be in command of
From this reading No one, unless commanded by emergency, had the temerity to be abroad that night.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
cuttingnounUS /ˈkʌtɪŋ/
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
DoorstepnounUS /ˈdɔːrstep/
the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
emergencynounUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/
a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
From this reading No one, unless commanded by emergency, had the temerity to be abroad that night.
eventsnounUS /ɪˈvents/
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
extraadjectiveUS /ˈekstrə/
more than is needed, desired, or required
From this reading It was a good night to be indoors over a roaring fire or in bed between extra blankets.
FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/
start firing a weapon
From this reading It was a good night to be indoors over a roaring fire or in bed between extra blankets.
flakesnounUS /fleɪks/
plural of “flake” — a crystal of snow
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
fleshnounUS /fleʃ/
the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
flyverbUS /flaɪ/
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
foregoingadjectiveUS /fɔːrˈɡoʊɪŋ/
especially of writing or speech; going before
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading It was a good night to be indoors over a roaring fire or in bed between extra blankets.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No one, unless commanded by emergency, had the temerity to be abroad that night.
housesnounUS /ˈhaʊsəz/
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
indoorsadverbUS /ˈɪndɔːrz/
within a building
From this reading It was a good night to be indoors over a roaring fire or in bed between extra blankets.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
lightlessadjective
giving no light
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
lionnounUS /ˈlaɪən/
large gregarious predatory feline of Africa and India having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
mentionedverbUS /ˈmenʃənd/
past form of “mention” — make reference to
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
midnightnounUS /ˈmɪdnaɪt/
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
monthsnounUS /mʌnθs/
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading It was a good night to be indoors over a roaring fire or in bed between extra blankets.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No one, unless commanded by emergency, had the temerity to be abroad that night.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one, unless commanded by emergency, had the temerity to be abroad that night.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was a good night to be indoors over a roaring fire or in bed between extra blankets.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was a good night to be indoors over a roaring fire or in bed between extra blankets.
ragenounUS /reɪdʒ/
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
ragingadjectiveUS /ˈreɪdʒɪŋ/
characterized by violent and forceful activity or movement; very intense
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
raspedverbUS /ræspt/
past form of “rasp” — scrape with a rasp
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
roaringnounUS /ˈrɔːrɪŋ/
a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading It was a good night to be indoors over a roaring fire or in bed between extra blankets.
scurryingadjectiveUS /ˈskɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
shriekedadjectiveUS /ʃriːkt/
uttered in a shrill scream as of pain or terror
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
snownounUS /snoʊ/
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
stingverbUS /stɪŋ/
cause a sharp or stinging pain or discomfort
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
temeritynounUS /təˈmerəti/
fearless daring
From this reading No one, unless commanded by emergency, had the temerity to be abroad that night.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading No one, unless commanded by emergency, had the temerity to be abroad that night.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
Tinkletown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
tinyadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪni/
very small
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was a good night to be indoors over a roaring fire or in bed between extra blankets.
treesnounUS /triːz/
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading No one, unless commanded by emergency, had the temerity to be abroad that night.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Babe on the Doorstep It was midnight in Tinkletown, many months after the events mentioned in the foregoing chapters, and a blizzard was raging.
waspsnounUS /wɑːsps/
plural of “wasp” — a white person of Anglo-Saxon ancestry who belongs to a Protestant denomination
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
whippedverbUS /wɪpt/
inflected form of “whip” — beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
whizzedverbUS /wɪzd/
inflected form of “whiz” — make a soft swishing sound
From this reading The snow, on account of the bitter cold in the air, did not fly in big flakes, but whizzed like tiny bullets, cutting the flesh of men and beasts like the sting of wasps.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The February wind rasped through the bare trees, shrieked around the corners of lightless houses and whipped its way through the scurrying snow with all the rage of a lion.
