used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His journey had been accomplished at a speed that was an expression of his desire.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
highly skilled
From this reading His journey had been accomplished at a speed that was an expression of his desire.
anew
From this reading For all April was near its close the signs of thaw had again given way to an Arctic temperature.
(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 For all April was near its close the signs of thaw had again given way to an Arctic temperature.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading It was only another example of the freakishness of the Northland seasons.
AprilnounUS /ˈeɪprəl/
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading For all April was near its close the signs of thaw had again given way to an Arctic temperature.
ArcticnounUS /ˈɑːrktɪk/
the regions to the north of the Arctic Circle centered on the North Pole
From this reading For all April was near its close the signs of thaw had again given way to an Arctic temperature.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His journey had been accomplished at a speed that was an expression of his desire.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His journey had been accomplished at a speed that was an expression of his desire.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading It was cold--beyond the reach of the great fire--bitterly cold.
with bitterness; in a resentful manner
From this reading It was cold--beyond the reach of the great fire--bitterly cold.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading For all April was near its close the signs of thaw had again given way to an Arctic temperature.
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 It was cold--beyond the reach of the great fire--bitterly cold.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading His journey had been accomplished at a speed that was an expression of his desire.
an item of information that is typical of a class or group
From this reading It was only another example of the freakishness of the Northland seasons.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading His journey had been accomplished at a speed that was an expression of his desire.
start firing a weapon
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
flamesnounUS /fleɪmz/
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For all April was near its close the signs of thaw had again given way to an Arctic temperature.
freakishnessnoun
marked strangeness as a consequence of being abnormal
From this reading It was only another example of the freakishness of the Northland seasons.
fresh-hewn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
fuelverbUS /ˈfjuːəl/
provide with a combustible substance that provides energy
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading For all April was near its close the signs of thaw had again given way to an Arctic temperature.
in a grave and sober manner
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It was cold--beyond the reach of the great fire--bitterly cold.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For all April was near its close the signs of thaw had again given way to an Arctic temperature.
to a considerable degree
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His journey had been accomplished at a speed that was an expression of his desire.
imperceptibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmpərˈseptɪbəl/
impossible or difficult to perceive by the mind or senses
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was cold--beyond the reach of the great fire--bitterly cold.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading For all April was near its close the signs of thaw had again given way to an Arctic temperature.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading His journey had been accomplished at a speed that was an expression of his desire.
lickverbUS /lɪk/
beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
MarcelnounUS /mɑːrˈsel/
a hairdo characterized by deep regular waves that are made by a heated curling iron
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading For all April was near its close the signs of thaw had again given way to an Arctic temperature.
NorthlandnounUS /ˈnɔːrθlænd/
any region lying in or toward the north
From this reading It was only another example of the freakishness of the Northland seasons.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
and nothing more
From this reading It was only another example of the freakishness of the Northland seasons.
pillarnounUS /ˈpɪlər/
a fundamental principle or practice
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading It was cold--beyond the reach of the great fire--bitterly cold.
uttered with a trill
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
seasonsnounUS /ˈsiːzənz/
plural of “season” — a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading It was only another example of the freakishness of the Northland seasons.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading For all April was near its close the signs of thaw had again given way to an Arctic temperature.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
move hurridly
From this reading His journey had been accomplished at a speed that was an expression of his desire.
temperaturenounUS /ˈtemprətʃər/
the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment (corresponding to its molecular activity)
From this reading For all April was near its close the signs of thaw had again given way to an Arctic temperature.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His journey had been accomplished at a speed that was an expression of his desire.
thawnounUS /θɔː/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading For all April was near its close the signs of thaw had again given way to an Arctic temperature.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
timbernounUS /ˈtɪmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For all April was near its close the signs of thaw had again given way to an Arctic temperature.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
upwardsadverbUS /ˈʌpwərdz/
spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
VIGILnounUS /ˈvɪdʒəl/
a period of sleeplessness
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was cold--beyond the reach of the great fire--bitterly cold.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading THE VIGIL Marcel flung the fuel upon the fire, and gravely watched the flames lick about the fresh-hewn timber, and the pillar of smoke rolling heavily upwards on the breath of an almost imperceptible breeze.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading For all April was near its close the signs of thaw had again given way to an Arctic temperature.
