Chapter X · Chapter 10

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

(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 All storms of desert hills, except wind storms, are impotent.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading No tree takes the snow stress with such ease as the silver fir.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.

plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

plural of “break” — some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

From this reading All storms of desert hills, except wind storms, are impotent.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

plural of “drift” — a force that moves something along

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

weak from exhaustion

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

move gently or carefully

From this reading No tree takes the snow stress with such ease as the silver fir.

the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

apart from; not including

From this reading All storms of desert hills, except wind storms, are impotent.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

nonresinous wood of a fir tree

From this reading No tree takes the snow stress with such ease as the silver fir.

plural of “fir” — nonresinous wood of a fir tree

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.

in an unqualified manner

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.

an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading All storms of desert hills, except wind storms, are impotent.

lacking power or ability

From this reading All storms of desert hills, except wind storms, are impotent.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

feeling or showing love and affection

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.

being in the exact middle

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

being or made softer or less loud or clear

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

not any; not one

From this reading No tree takes the snow stress with such ease as the silver fir.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

and nothing more

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

above and across; more than

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.

-ing form of “overload” — become overloaded

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

something having the property of being analogous to something else

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

in the near future

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

exert pressure or force to or upon

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

plural of “range” — an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

get or find back; recover the use of

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

move upward

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

travelling about without any clear destination

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

plural of “sierra” — a range of mountains (usually with jagged peaks and irregular outline)

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading No tree takes the snow stress with such ease as the silver fir.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading No tree takes the snow stress with such ease as the silver fir.

plural of “snow” — precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

make a murmuring sound

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

distribute or disperse widely

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

plural of “storm” — a violent weather condition with winds 64-72 knots (11 on the Beaufort scale) and precipitation and thunder and lightning

From this reading All storms of desert hills, except wind storms, are impotent.

the relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch)

From this reading No tree takes the snow stress with such ease as the silver fir.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading No tree takes the snow stress with such ease as the silver fir.

plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

From this reading No tree takes the snow stress with such ease as the silver fir.

plural of “tent” — a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading No tree takes the snow stress with such ease as the silver fir.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

in or at that place or location

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading East and east of the Sierras they rise in nearly parallel ranges, desertward, and no rain breaks over them, except from some far-strayed cloud or roving wind from the California Gulf, and these only in winter.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading No tree takes the snow stress with such ease as the silver fir.

the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

up to a particular time

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

(statistics) a coefficient assigned to elements of a frequency distribution in order to represent their relative importance

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

covered or soaked with a liquid such as water

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.

at the time that

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.

plural of “whorl” — a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles (as formed by leaves or flower petals)

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading All storms of desert hills, except wind storms, are impotent.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.

in the company of; together with

From this reading No tree takes the snow stress with such ease as the silver fir.

plural of “wreath” — flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes

From this reading The star-whorled, fan-spread branches droop under the soft wreaths--droop and press flatly to the trunk; presently the point of overloading is reached, there is a soft sough and muffled drooping, the boughs recover, and the weighting goes on until the drifts have reached the midmost whorls and covered up the branches.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading When the snows are particularly wet and heavy they spread over the young firs in green-ribbed tents wherein harbor winter loving birds.