used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
AlaskanounUS /əˈlæskə/
a state in northwestern North America; the 49th state admitted to the union
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Slowly the sun began to swing north, and long before the sap began to run, or the first flight of birds, men began discussing the ice pool.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Slowly the sun began to swing north, and long before the sap began to run, or the first flight of birds, men began discussing the ice pool.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Slowly the sun began to swing north, and long before the sap began to run, or the first flight of birds, men began discussing the ice pool.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading And then it changed.
crooksnounUS /krʊks/
plural of “crook” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Valley, stream and mountain, in the grip of the ice, lay like something dead.
discussingverbUS /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading Slowly the sun began to swing north, and long before the sap began to run, or the first flight of birds, men began discussing the ice pool.
disposesverbUS /dɪˈspoʊzɪz/
third-person singular of “dispose” — give, sell, or transfer to another
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Slowly the sun began to swing north, and long before the sap began to run, or the first flight of birds, men began discussing the ice pool.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading Slowly the sun began to swing north, and long before the sap began to run, or the first flight of birds, men began discussing the ice pool.
gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading Valley, stream and mountain, in the grip of the ice, lay like something dead.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sap had not started to run.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading Valley, stream and mountain, in the grip of the ice, lay like something dead.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
inscrutableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈskruːtəbəl/
of an obscure nature
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And then it changed.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Valley, stream and mountain, in the grip of the ice, lay like something dead.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Valley, stream and mountain, in the grip of the ice, lay like something dead.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Slowly the sun began to swing north, and long before the sap began to run, or the first flight of birds, men began discussing the ice pool.
the force of workers available
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading Valley, stream and mountain, in the grip of the ice, lay like something dead.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Slowly the sun began to swing north, and long before the sap began to run, or the first flight of birds, men began discussing the ice pool.
Northcountry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The sap had not started to run.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Slowly the sun began to swing north, and long before the sap began to run, or the first flight of birds, men began discussing the ice pool.
poolnounUS /puːl/
an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading Slowly the sun began to swing north, and long before the sap began to run, or the first flight of birds, men began discussing the ice pool.
proposeverbUS /prəˈpoʊz/
make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The sap had not started to run.
sapverbUS /sæp/
deplete
From this reading The sap had not started to run.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Slowly the sun began to swing north, and long before the sap began to run, or the first flight of birds, men began discussing the ice pool.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Valley, stream and mountain, in the grip of the ice, lay like something dead.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The sap had not started to run.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading Valley, stream and mountain, in the grip of the ice, lay like something dead.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Slowly the sun began to swing north, and long before the sap began to run, or the first flight of birds, men began discussing the ice pool.
swingverbUS /swɪŋ/
move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Slowly the sun began to swing north, and long before the sap began to run, or the first flight of birds, men began discussing the ice pool.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And then it changed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sap had not started to run.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Valley, stream and mountain, in the grip of the ice, lay like something dead.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading A story of Alaska, in which honest men and crooks propose, but inscrutable Nature disposes The hand of winter was on the Northcountry.
