Chapter XL · Chapter 40

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE FIRST CHRISTMAS Christmas Eve in a little village of Northern New York--a white Christmas, clear and cold.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading A heaviness hung in the frosty air--a stillness broken only by the tinkling of sleigh-bells or sometimes by the merry laughter of the passers-by.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading THE FIRST CHRISTMAS Christmas Eve in a little village of Northern New York--a white Christmas, clear and cold.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather

From this reading It was brilliantly lighted this Christmas Eve, its lower windows sending forth broad yellow beams of light over the whiteness of the ground outside.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

of black tinged with blue

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

of surpassing excellence

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

with brightness

From this reading It was brilliantly lighted this Christmas Eve, its lower windows sending forth broad yellow beams of light over the whiteness of the ground outside.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading It was brilliantly lighted this Christmas Eve, its lower windows sending forth broad yellow beams of light over the whiteness of the ground outside.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading A heaviness hung in the frosty air--a stillness broken only by the tinkling of sleigh-bells or sometimes by the merry laughter of the passers-by.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A heaviness hung in the frosty air--a stillness broken only by the tinkling of sleigh-bells or sometimes by the merry laughter of the passers-by.

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading THE FIRST CHRISTMAS Christmas Eve in a little village of Northern New York--a white Christmas, clear and cold.

rid of obstructions

From this reading THE FIRST CHRISTMAS Christmas Eve in a little village of Northern New York--a white Christmas, clear and cold.

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 FIRST CHRISTMAS Christmas Eve in a little village of Northern New York--a white Christmas, clear and cold.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

weak from exhaustion

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

From this reading THE FIRST CHRISTMAS Christmas Eve in a little village of Northern New York--a white Christmas, clear and cold.

house for a farmer and family

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading THE FIRST CHRISTMAS Christmas Eve in a little village of Northern New York--a white Christmas, clear and cold.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading It was brilliantly lighted this Christmas Eve, its lower windows sending forth broad yellow beams of light over the whiteness of the ground outside.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain

From this reading A heaviness hung in the frosty air--a stillness broken only by the tinkling of sleigh-bells or sometimes by the merry laughter of the passers-by.

resembling or characteristic of a phantom

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

having brief brilliant points or flashes of light

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading It was brilliantly lighted this Christmas Eve, its lower windows sending forth broad yellow beams of light over the whiteness of the ground outside.

the property of being comparatively great in weight

From this reading A heaviness hung in the frosty air--a stillness broken only by the tinkling of sleigh-bells or sometimes by the merry laughter of the passers-by.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading A heaviness hung in the frosty air--a stillness broken only by the tinkling of sleigh-bells or sometimes by the merry laughter of the passers-by.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading THE FIRST CHRISTMAS Christmas Eve in a little village of Northern New York--a white Christmas, clear and cold.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was brilliantly lighted this Christmas Eve, its lower windows sending forth broad yellow beams of light over the whiteness of the ground outside.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

the sound of laughing

From this reading A heaviness hung in the frosty air--a stillness broken only by the tinkling of sleigh-bells or sometimes by the merry laughter of the passers-by.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

set afire or burning

From this reading It was brilliantly lighted this Christmas Eve, its lower windows sending forth broad yellow beams of light over the whiteness of the ground outside.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading THE FIRST CHRISTMAS Christmas Eve in a little village of Northern New York--a white Christmas, clear and cold.

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading It was brilliantly lighted this Christmas Eve, its lower windows sending forth broad yellow beams of light over the whiteness of the ground outside.

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

From this reading A heaviness hung in the frosty air--a stillness broken only by the tinkling of sleigh-bells or sometimes by the merry laughter of the passers-by.

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading THE FIRST CHRISTMAS Christmas Eve in a little village of Northern New York--a white Christmas, clear and cold.

in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading THE FIRST CHRISTMAS Christmas Eve in a little village of Northern New York--a white Christmas, clear and cold.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE FIRST CHRISTMAS Christmas Eve in a little village of Northern New York--a white Christmas, clear and cold.

out of fashion

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

and nothing more

From this reading A heaviness hung in the frosty air--a stillness broken only by the tinkling of sleigh-bells or sometimes by the merry laughter of the passers-by.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading A heaviness hung in the frosty air--a stillness broken only by the tinkling of sleigh-bells or sometimes by the merry laughter of the passers-by.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading It was brilliantly lighted this Christmas Eve, its lower windows sending forth broad yellow beams of light over the whiteness of the ground outside.

outlying areas (as of a city or town)

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

above and across; more than

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

plural of “passer-by” — a person who passes by casually or by chance

From this reading A heaviness hung in the frosty air--a stillness broken only by the tinkling of sleigh-bells or sometimes by the merry laughter of the passers-by.

past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

(of sound) set to a certain pitch or key; usually used as a combining form

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

past form of “pour” — cause to run

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

the act of causing something to go (especially messages)

From this reading It was brilliantly lighted this Christmas Eve, its lower windows sending forth broad yellow beams of light over the whiteness of the ground outside.

without speaking

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A heaviness hung in the frosty air--a stillness broken only by the tinkling of sleigh-bells or sometimes by the merry laughter of the passers-by.

having an oblique or slanted direction

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

drawn or pressed close to someone or something for or as if for affection or protection

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading A heaviness hung in the frosty air--a stillness broken only by the tinkling of sleigh-bells or sometimes by the merry laughter of the passers-by.

distribute or disperse widely

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

in a steep manner

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

(poetic) tranquil silence

From this reading A heaviness hung in the frosty air--a stillness broken only by the tinkling of sleigh-bells or sometimes by the merry laughter of the passers-by.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE FIRST CHRISTMAS Christmas Eve in a little village of Northern New York--a white Christmas, clear and cold.

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 In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading It was brilliantly lighted this Christmas Eve, its lower windows sending forth broad yellow beams of light over the whiteness of the ground outside.

like the short high ringing sound of a small bell

From this reading A heaviness hung in the frosty air--a stillness broken only by the tinkling of sleigh-bells or sometimes by the merry laughter of the passers-by.

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 In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading THE FIRST CHRISTMAS Christmas Eve in a little village of Northern New York--a white Christmas, clear and cold.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was brilliantly lighted this Christmas Eve, its lower windows sending forth broad yellow beams of light over the whiteness of the ground outside.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

a Caucasian

From this reading THE FIRST CHRISTMAS Christmas Eve in a little village of Northern New York--a white Christmas, clear and cold.

the quality or state of the achromatic color of greatest lightness (bearing the least resemblance to black)

From this reading In the dark, blue-black of the sky the glittering stars were spread thick; the brilliant moon poured down its silver light over the whiteness of the sloping roof-tops, and upon the ghostly white, silently drooping trees.

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading It was brilliantly lighted this Christmas Eve, its lower windows sending forth broad yellow beams of light over the whiteness of the ground outside.

in the company of; together with

From this reading At the outskirts of the village, a little back from the road, a farmhouse lay snuggled up between two huge apple-trees--an old-fashioned, rambling farmhouse with a steeply pitched roof, piled high now, with snow.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading It was brilliantly lighted this Christmas Eve, its lower windows sending forth broad yellow beams of light over the whiteness of the ground outside.

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading THE FIRST CHRISTMAS Christmas Eve in a little village of Northern New York--a white Christmas, clear and cold.