used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
(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 In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
ALTAMONT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FIRST WORDS OF ALTAMONT.
altitudenounUS /ˈæltətuːd/
elevation especially above sea level or above the earth's surface
From this reading Hatteras seized the opportunity and went out silently to take the altitude of some of the principal constellations.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
ascertainverbUS /ˌæsərˈteɪn/
establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
From this reading He wished to ascertain if the ice-field was still drifting.
in a state of sleep
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
brilliantlyadverbUS /ˈbrɪljəntli/
with brightness
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
placed in a grave
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
constellationsnounUS /ˌkɑːnstəˈleɪʃənz/
plural of “constellation” — an arrangement of parts or elements
From this reading Hatteras seized the opportunity and went out silently to take the altitude of some of the principal constellations.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
deepestadjectiveUS /ˈdiːpəst/
superlative of “deep” — relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading He wished to ascertain if the ice-field was still drifting.
being one more than seven
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading FIRST WORDS OF ALTAMONT.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
Hatteras
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hatteras seized the opportunity and went out silently to take the altitude of some of the principal constellations.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wished to ascertain if the ice-field was still drifting.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
temporary military shelter
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
ice-field
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wished to ascertain if the ice-field was still drifting.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He wished to ascertain if the ice-field was still drifting.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
not in physical motion
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading FIRST WORDS OF ALTAMONT.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Hatteras seized the opportunity and went out silently to take the altitude of some of the principal constellations.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading Hatteras seized the opportunity and went out silently to take the altitude of some of the principal constellations.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Hatteras seized the opportunity and went out silently to take the altitude of some of the principal constellations.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
without speaking
From this reading Hatteras seized the opportunity and went out silently to take the altitude of some of the principal constellations.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Hatteras seized the opportunity and went out silently to take the altitude of some of the principal constellations.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
not in physical motion
From this reading He wished to ascertain if the ice-field was still drifting.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
carry out
From this reading Hatteras seized the opportunity and went out silently to take the altitude of some of the principal constellations.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hatteras seized the opportunity and went out silently to take the altitude of some of the principal constellations.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He wished to ascertain if the ice-field was still drifting.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Hatteras seized the opportunity and went out silently to take the altitude of some of the principal constellations.
in or at the place that
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading He wished to ascertain if the ice-field was still drifting.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut, where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
the words that are spoken
From this reading FIRST WORDS OF ALTAMONT.
