used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He imagined from his sensations that the temperature must be about fifty degrees below zero.
affordedverbUS /əˈfɔːrdəd/
past form of “afford” — be able to spare or give up
From this reading Blake sat with his back to a snowbank, which afforded a slight shelter.
(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 In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
react verbally
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
aroused or activated
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Blake sat with his back to a snowbank, which afforded a slight shelter.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He imagined from his sensations that the temperature must be about fifty degrees below zero.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading He imagined from his sensations that the temperature must be about fifty degrees below zero.
next to; at the side of
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
BlakenounUS /bleɪk/
visionary British poet and painter (1757-1827)
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
CARIBOUnounUS /ˈkerɪbuː/
Arctic deer with large antlers in both sexes; called “reindeer” in Eurasia and “caribou” in North America
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
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 TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
plural of “degree” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading He imagined from his sensations that the temperature must be about fifty degrees below zero.
characterized by great determination
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
discomfortnounUS /dɪˈskʌmfərt/
the state of being tense and feeling pain
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
drowsyadjectiveUS /ˈdraʊzi/
half asleep
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading He imagined from his sensations that the temperature must be about fifty degrees below zero.
start firing a weapon
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
set up or found
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
highest in quality
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
HardingnounUS /ˈhɑːrdɪŋ/
29th President of the United States; two of his appointees were involved in the Teapot Dome scandal (1865-1823)
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
hardshipnounUS /ˈhɑːrdʃɪp/
a state of misfortune or affliction
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
howlverbUS /haʊl/
emit long loud cries
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading He imagined from his sensations that the temperature must be about fifty degrees below zero.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
the act of departing
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
linedadjectiveUS /laɪnd/
bordered by a line of things
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He imagined from his sensations that the temperature must be about fifty degrees below zero.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
on one occasion
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
move upward
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Blake sat with his back to a snowbank, which afforded a slight shelter.
scrapedverbUS /skreɪpt/
past form of “scrape” — scratch repeatedly
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
sensationsnounUS /senˈseɪʃənz/
plural of “sensation” — an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading He imagined from his sensations that the temperature must be about fifty degrees below zero.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading Blake sat with his back to a snowbank, which afforded a slight shelter.
significantadjectiveUS /səɡˈnɪfɪkənt/
important in effect or meaning
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading Blake sat with his back to a snowbank, which afforded a slight shelter.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
snowbanknoun
a mound or heap of snow
From this reading Blake sat with his back to a snowbank, which afforded a slight shelter.
sprucenounUS /spruːs/
light soft moderately strong wood of spruce trees; used especially for timbers and millwork
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
temperaturenounUS /ˈtemprətʃər/
the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment (corresponding to its molecular activity)
From this reading He imagined from his sensations that the temperature must be about fifty degrees below zero.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
hard to endure
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
two times
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
twigsnounUS /twɪɡz/
plural of “twig” — a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
unendurableadjective
incapable of being tolerated or endured
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading He had not been warm there, and it was significant that the snow was dry; but sleep had brought him relief from discomfort, and he had found getting up the greatest hardship of the trying journey.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
at the time that
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Blake sat with his back to a snowbank, which afforded a slight shelter.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE TRAIL OF THE CARIBOU When Blake was awakened by Harding, the cold was almost unendurable, and it cost him a determined effort to rise from the hollow he had scraped out of the snow and lined with spruce twigs close beside the fire.
any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
From this reading In answer to his drowsy questions, Harding said he had once or twice heard a wolf howl in the distance, but that was all; and then he lay down, leaving Blake on guard.
zeroadjectiveUS /ˈzɪroʊ/
indicating the absence of any or all units under consideration
From this reading He imagined from his sensations that the temperature must be about fifty degrees below zero.
