used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
affordedverbUS /əˈfɔːrdəd/
past form of “afford” — be able to spare or give up
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
(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 So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
eagerly desirous
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
athwartadverbUS /əˈθwɔːrt/
at right angles to the center line of a ship
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
next to; at the side of
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
birches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
bouldernounUS /ˈboʊldər/
a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
bouldersnounUS /ˈboʊldərz/
plural of “boulder” — a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
clumpnounUS /klʌmp/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
crustedadjectiveUS /ˈkrʌstɪd/
having a hardened crust as a covering
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
distinguishableadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃəbəl/
capable of being perceived as different or distinct
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
filmyadjective
so thin as to transmit light
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
start firing a weapon
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
flakesnounUS /fleɪks/
plural of “flake” — a crystal of snow
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/
turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
LislenounUS /ˈlaɪəl/
a fabric woven with lisle thread
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
information about recent and important events
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
northernadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrðərn/
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
outlinedadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtlaɪnd/
showing clearly the outline or profile or boundary
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
radiancenounUS /ˈreɪdiːəns/
the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
shapesnounUS /ʃeɪps/
plural of “shape” — any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
snowingverbUS /ˈsnoʊɪŋ/
-ing form of “snow” — fall as snow
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
STARTLINGadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
strainingnounUS /ˈstreɪnɪŋ/
an intense or violent exertion
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
stuntedadjectiveUS /ˈstʌntɪd/
inferior in size or quality
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
at the time that
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
whirledverbUS /wɜːrld/
past form of “whirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
willowsnounUS /ˈwɪloʊz/
plural of “willow” — any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
in the company of; together with
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
