used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The men sank to their knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the logs would not run well on the beaten roads.
awkwardlyadverbUS /ˈɔːkwərdli/
in an awkward manner
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
ax-head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One could not touch a saw or ax-head with the naked hand.
formed or made thin by hammering
From this reading The men sank to their knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the logs would not run well on the beaten roads.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
billowyadjective
characterized by great swelling waves or surges
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
lacking funds
From this reading The latter broke into holes, and the dry snow retarded the smooth sliding of the lumber like dust.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
CHINOOKnounUS /ʃɪˈnʊk/
a warm dry wind blowing down the eastern slopes of the Rockies
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading One could not touch a saw or ax-head with the naked hand.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The men sank to their knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the logs would not run well on the beaten roads.
driftsnounUS /drɪfts/
plural of “drift” — a force that moves something along
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading The latter broke into holes, and the dry snow retarded the smooth sliding of the lumber like dust.
dryingverbUS /ˈdraɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “dry” — remove the moisture from and make dry
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
remove the dust from
From this reading The latter broke into holes, and the dry snow retarded the smooth sliding of the lumber like dust.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
Festing's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading The men sank to their knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the logs would not run well on the beaten roads.
flounderedverbUS /ˈflaʊndərd/
past form of “flounder” — walk with great difficulty
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The men sank to their knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the logs would not run well on the beaten roads.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
frostnounUS /frɔːst/
ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
fulcrumnounUS /ˈfʊlkrəm/
the pivot about which a lever turns
From this reading The men sank to their knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the logs would not run well on the beaten roads.
gangnounUS /ɡæŋ/
an association of criminals
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading One could not touch a saw or ax-head with the naked hand.
handspikes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men sank to their knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the logs would not run well on the beaten roads.
hardenedadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdənd/
used of persons; emotionally hardened
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
holesnounUS /hoʊlz/
plural of “hole” — an opening into or through something
From this reading The latter broke into holes, and the dry snow retarded the smooth sliding of the lumber like dust.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The latter broke into holes, and the dry snow retarded the smooth sliding of the lumber like dust.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The men sank to their knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the logs would not run well on the beaten roads.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading The men sank to their knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the logs would not run well on the beaten roads.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The latter broke into holes, and the dry snow retarded the smooth sliding of the lumber like dust.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The latter broke into holes, and the dry snow retarded the smooth sliding of the lumber like dust.
logsnounUS /lɔːɡz/
plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
lumbernounUS /ˈlʌmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
the force of workers available
From this reading The men sank to their knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the logs would not run well on the beaten roads.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/
completely unclothed
From this reading One could not touch a saw or ax-head with the naked hand.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The men sank to their knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the logs would not run well on the beaten roads.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The latter broke into holes, and the dry snow retarded the smooth sliding of the lumber like dust.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The men sank to their knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the logs would not run well on the beaten roads.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One could not touch a saw or ax-head with the naked hand.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading One could not touch a saw or ax-head with the naked hand.
powdernounUS /ˈpaʊdər/
a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
retardedadjectiveUS /rɪˈtɑːrdɪd/
relatively slow in mental or emotional or physical development
From this reading The latter broke into holes, and the dry snow retarded the smooth sliding of the lumber like dust.
rigorousadjectiveUS /ˈrɪɡərəs/
rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading The men sank to their knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the logs would not run well on the beaten roads.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The men sank to their knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the logs would not run well on the beaten roads.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading The men sank to their knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the logs would not run well on the beaten roads.
cut with a saw
From this reading One could not touch a saw or ax-head with the naked hand.
slidingadjectiveUS /ˈslaɪdɪŋ/
being a smooth continuous motion
From this reading The latter broke into holes, and the dry snow retarded the smooth sliding of the lumber like dust.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading The latter broke into holes, and the dry snow retarded the smooth sliding of the lumber like dust.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
thawnounUS /θɔː/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The men sank to their knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the logs would not run well on the beaten roads.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading One could not touch a saw or ax-head with the naked hand.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The men sank to their knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the logs would not run well on the beaten roads.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The men sank to their knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the logs would not run well on the beaten roads.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading THE CHINOOK WIND The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading One could not touch a saw or ax-head with the naked hand.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Had there been a thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to move the logs through loose, billowy drifts.
