used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "About as fierce a blizzard as I remember," Sergeant Lane remarked.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "About as fierce a blizzard as I remember," Sergeant Lane remarked.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
beltnounUS /belt/
endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
billowyadjective
characterized by great swelling waves or surges
From this reading Even in the spots where some had withstood its force the ground was strewn with split and broken branches, and to lee of them the snow had gathered in billowy drifts.
blizzardnounUS /ˈblɪzərd/
a storm with widespread snowfall accompanied by strong winds
From this reading "About as fierce a blizzard as I remember," Sergeant Lane remarked.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Even in the spots where some had withstood its force the ground was strewn with split and broken branches, and to lee of them the snow had gathered in billowy drifts.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Even in the spots where some had withstood its force the ground was strewn with split and broken branches, and to lee of them the snow had gathered in billowy drifts.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
without doubt or question
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
the act of discovering something
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
driftsnounUS /drɪfts/
plural of “drift” — a force that moves something along
From this reading Even in the spots where some had withstood its force the ground was strewn with split and broken branches, and to lee of them the snow had gathered in billowy drifts.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
divisible by two
From this reading Even in the spots where some had withstood its force the ground was strewn with split and broken branches, and to lee of them the snow had gathered in billowy drifts.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading "About as fierce a blizzard as I remember," Sergeant Lane remarked.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The scene of ruin impressed the men, who were forced to make long rounds in search of a passage for the sled.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Even in the spots where some had withstood its force the ground was strewn with split and broken branches, and to lee of them the snow had gathered in billowy drifts.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading The scene of ruin impressed the men, who were forced to make long rounds in search of a passage for the sled.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/
turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
galenounUS /ɡeɪl/
a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
brought together in one place
From this reading Even in the spots where some had withstood its force the ground was strewn with split and broken branches, and to lee of them the snow had gathered in billowy drifts.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Even in the spots where some had withstood its force the ground was strewn with split and broken branches, and to lee of them the snow had gathered in billowy drifts.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "About as fierce a blizzard as I remember," Sergeant Lane remarked.
deeply or markedly affected or influenced
From this reading The scene of ruin impressed the men, who were forced to make long rounds in search of a passage for the sled.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Even in the spots where some had withstood its force the ground was strewn with split and broken branches, and to lee of them the snow had gathered in billowy drifts.
set down according to a plan
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
a narrow way or road
From this reading "About as fierce a blizzard as I remember," Sergeant Lane remarked.
leenounUS /liː/
United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)
From this reading Even in the spots where some had withstood its force the ground was strewn with split and broken branches, and to lee of them the snow had gathered in billowy drifts.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
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 The scene of ruin impressed the men, who were forced to make long rounds in search of a passage for the sled.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
engage in
From this reading The scene of ruin impressed the men, who were forced to make long rounds in search of a passage for the sled.
the force of workers available
From this reading The scene of ruin impressed the men, who were forced to make long rounds in search of a passage for the sled.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
muskeg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading The scene of ruin impressed the men, who were forced to make long rounds in search of a passage for the sled.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
reinforcedadjectiveUS /ˌriːɪnˈfɔːrst/
given added strength or support
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading "About as fierce a blizzard as I remember," Sergeant Lane remarked.
To recall to mind.
From this reading "About as fierce a blizzard as I remember," Sergeant Lane remarked.
roundsnounUS /raʊndz/
plural of “round” — a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The scene of ruin impressed the men, who were forced to make long rounds in search of a passage for the sled.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading The scene of ruin impressed the men, who were forced to make long rounds in search of a passage for the sled.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading The scene of ruin impressed the men, who were forced to make long rounds in search of a passage for the sled.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading The scene of ruin impressed the men, who were forced to make long rounds in search of a passage for the sled.
SergeantnounUS /ˈsɑːrdʒənt/
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading "About as fierce a blizzard as I remember," Sergeant Lane remarked.
slednounUS /sled/
a vehicle mounted on runners and pulled by horses or dogs; for transportation over snow
From this reading The scene of ruin impressed the men, who were forced to make long rounds in search of a passage for the sled.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
snappedverbUS /snæpt/
inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading Even in the spots where some had withstood its force the ground was strewn with split and broken branches, and to lee of them the snow had gathered in billowy drifts.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Even in the spots where some had withstood its force the ground was strewn with split and broken branches, and to lee of them the snow had gathered in billowy drifts.
splitverbUS /splɪt/
separate into parts or portions
From this reading Even in the spots where some had withstood its force the ground was strewn with split and broken branches, and to lee of them the snow had gathered in billowy drifts.
spotsnounUS /spɑːts/
spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens
From this reading Even in the spots where some had withstood its force the ground was strewn with split and broken branches, and to lee of them the snow had gathered in billowy drifts.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
STARTLINGadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
strewnverbUS /struːn/
inflected form of “strew” — spread by scattering ("straw" is archaic)
From this reading Even in the spots where some had withstood its force the ground was strewn with split and broken branches, and to lee of them the snow had gathered in billowy drifts.
swaths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
thickeradjectiveUS /ˈθɪkər/
comparative of “thick” — 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 A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
timbernounUS /ˈtɪmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Even in the spots where some had withstood its force the ground was strewn with split and broken branches, and to lee of them the snow had gathered in billowy drifts.
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 trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
trunksnounUS /trʌŋks/
(used in the plural) trousers that end at or above the knee
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
uprootedverbUS /əˈpruːtɪd/
past form of “uproot” — move (people) forcibly from their homeland into a new and foreign environment
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The trees were small and sprang from a frozen muskeg, so that they could not be uprooted, but the gale had snapped the trunks and laid them low in swaths.
at the time that
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
in or at the place that
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY It was getting light the next morning when the reinforced party entered a belt of thicker timber where they first clearly realized the fury of the storm.
which person or people
From this reading The scene of ruin impressed the men, who were forced to make long rounds in search of a passage for the sled.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Even in the spots where some had withstood its force the ground was strewn with split and broken branches, and to lee of them the snow had gathered in billowy drifts.
withstoodverbUS /wɪθˈstʊd/
inflected form of “withstand” — resist or confront with resistance
From this reading Even in the spots where some had withstood its force the ground was strewn with split and broken branches, and to lee of them the snow had gathered in billowy drifts.
