used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At a distance of three hundred yards Philip could have seen a caribou if it had passed.
billionnounUS /ˈbɪljən/
the number that is represented as a one followed by 12 zeros; in the United Kingdom the usage followed in the United States is frequently seen
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
blackenedadjectiveUS /ˈblækənd/
darkened by smoke
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The night was so bright that the spruce trees cast vivid shadows on the snow.
caribounounUS /ˈkerɪbuː/
Arctic deer with large antlers in both sexes; called “reindeer” in Eurasia and “caribou” in North America
From this reading At a distance of three hundred yards Philip could have seen a caribou if it had passed.
put or send forth
From this reading The night was so bright that the spruce trees cast vivid shadows on the snow.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
constellationnounUS /ˌkɑːnstəˈleɪʃən/
an arrangement of parts or elements
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At a distance of three hundred yards Philip could have seen a caribou if it had passed.
dearly loved
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The world did not need a moon.
DippernounUS /ˈdɪpər/
a ladle that has a cup with a long handle
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading At a distance of three hundred yards Philip could have seen a caribou if it had passed.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
finishingnounUS /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
start firing a weapon
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At a distance of three hundred yards Philip could have seen a caribou if it had passed.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading At a distance of three hundred yards Philip could have seen a caribou if it had passed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
ten 10s
From this reading At a distance of three hundred yards Philip could have seen a caribou if it had passed.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading At a distance of three hundred yards Philip could have seen a caribou if it had passed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At a distance of three hundred yards Philip could have seen a caribou if it had passed.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The world did not need a moon.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading The world did not need a moon.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The night was so bright that the spruce trees cast vivid shadows on the snow.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The world did not need a moon.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The night was so bright that the spruce trees cast vivid shadows on the snow.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
OverheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading At a distance of three hundred yards Philip could have seen a caribou if it had passed.
Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading At a distance of three hundred yards Philip could have seen a caribou if it had passed.
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading At a distance of three hundred yards Philip could have seen a caribou if it had passed.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The night was so bright that the spruce trees cast vivid shadows on the snow.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
snarenounUS /sner/
something (often something deceptively attractive) that catches you unawares
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading The night was so bright that the spruce trees cast vivid shadows on the snow.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The night was so bright that the spruce trees cast vivid shadows on the snow.
sprucenounUS /spruːs/
light soft moderately strong wood of spruce trees; used especially for timbers and millwork
From this reading The night was so bright that the spruce trees cast vivid shadows on the snow.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
sunsnounUS /sʌnz/
plural of “sun” — the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The night was so bright that the spruce trees cast vivid shadows on the snow.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The night was so bright that the spruce trees cast vivid shadows on the snow.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading At a distance of three hundred yards Philip could have seen a caribou if it had passed.
very small
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
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 night was so bright that the spruce trees cast vivid shadows on the snow.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading The night was so bright that the spruce trees cast vivid shadows on the snow.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The night was so bright that the spruce trees cast vivid shadows on the snow.
weaveverbUS /wiːv/
interlace by or as if by weaving
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Overhead there were a billion stars in a sky as dear as an open sea, and the Great Dipper shone like a constellation of tiny suns.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He sat close to his fire, with the heat of it reflected from the blackened face of a huge rock, finishing the snare which had taken him an hour to weave.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The world did not need a moon.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading At a distance of three hundred yards Philip could have seen a caribou if it had passed.
