used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a dismal, sodden morning, with heavy clouds banked in the western sky.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading A chill wind swept across the city and penetrated to the marrow.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A chill wind swept across the city and penetrated to the marrow.
bankedverbUS /bæŋkt/
past form of “bank” — tip laterally
From this reading It was a dismal, sodden morning, with heavy clouds banked in the western sky.
blocksnounUS /blɑːks/
plural of “block” — a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Since I was five-and-twenty, in tip-top health, and Irish by descent, I whistled while the windswept drops splashed the shine from my shoes.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading A chill wind swept across the city and penetrated to the marrow.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading A chill wind swept across the city and penetrated to the marrow.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading It was a dismal, sodden morning, with heavy clouds banked in the western sky.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
curbnounUS /kɜːrb/
an edge between a sidewalk and a roadway consisting of a line of curbstones (usually forming part of a gutter)
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
descentnounUS /dɪˈsent/
An action of moving downward, dropping, or falling into a deeper place.
From this reading Since I was five-and-twenty, in tip-top health, and Irish by descent, I whistled while the windswept drops splashed the shine from my shoes.
dismaladjectiveUS /ˈdɪzməl/
causing dejection
From this reading It was a dismal, sodden morning, with heavy clouds banked in the western sky.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Rain had sloshed down since midnight so that the gutter in front of me was a turbid little river.
dropsnounUS /drɑːps/
plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small
From this reading Since I was five-and-twenty, in tip-top health, and Irish by descent, I whistled while the windswept drops splashed the shine from my shoes.
five-and-twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since I was five-and-twenty, in tip-top health, and Irish by descent, I whistled while the windswept drops splashed the shine from my shoes.
flowingnounUS /ˈfloʊɪŋ/
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Rain had sloshed down since midnight so that the gutter in front of me was a turbid little river.
gutternounUS /ˈɡʌtər/
a channel along the eaves or on the roof; collects and carries away rainwater
From this reading Rain had sloshed down since midnight so that the gutter in front of me was a turbid little river.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Rain had sloshed down since midnight so that the gutter in front of me was a turbid little river.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading Since I was five-and-twenty, in tip-top health, and Irish by descent, I whistled while the windswept drops splashed the shine from my shoes.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading It was a dismal, sodden morning, with heavy clouds banked in the western sky.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a dismal, sodden morning, with heavy clouds banked in the western sky.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
IrishnounUS /ˈaɪrɪʃ/
people of Ireland or of Irish extraction
From this reading Since I was five-and-twenty, in tip-top health, and Irish by descent, I whistled while the windswept drops splashed the shine from my shoes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a dismal, sodden morning, with heavy clouds banked in the western sky.
immediately past
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Rain had sloshed down since midnight so that the gutter in front of me was a turbid little river.
marrownounUS /ˈmeroʊ/
the fatty network of connective tissue that fills the cavities of bones
From this reading A chill wind swept across the city and penetrated to the marrow.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Rain had sloshed down since midnight so that the gutter in front of me was a turbid little river.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading Rain had sloshed down since midnight so that the gutter in front of me was a turbid little river.
a particular point in time
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was a dismal, sodden morning, with heavy clouds banked in the western sky.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Rain had sloshed down since midnight so that the gutter in front of me was a turbid little river.
penetratedverbUS /ˈpenətreɪtɪd/
past form of “penetrate” — pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
From this reading A chill wind swept across the city and penetrated to the marrow.
plungeverbUS /plʌndʒ/
thrust or throw into
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
postponeverbUS /poʊstˈpoʊn/
hold back to a later time
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Rain had sloshed down since midnight so that the gutter in front of me was a turbid little river.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Rain had sloshed down since midnight so that the gutter in front of me was a turbid little river.
shineverbUS /ʃaɪn/
be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading Since I was five-and-twenty, in tip-top health, and Irish by descent, I whistled while the windswept drops splashed the shine from my shoes.
a particular situation
From this reading Since I was five-and-twenty, in tip-top health, and Irish by descent, I whistled while the windswept drops splashed the shine from my shoes.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Rain had sloshed down since midnight so that the gutter in front of me was a turbid little river.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading It was a dismal, sodden morning, with heavy clouds banked in the western sky.
slidingadjectiveUS /ˈslaɪdɪŋ/
being a smooth continuous motion
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
sloshedadjective
very drunk
From this reading Rain had sloshed down since midnight so that the gutter in front of me was a turbid little river.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Rain had sloshed down since midnight so that the gutter in front of me was a turbid little river.
soddenadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːdən/
wet through and through; thoroughly wet
From this reading It was a dismal, sodden morning, with heavy clouds banked in the western sky.
splashedadjectiveUS /splæʃt/
(of a fluid) having been propelled about in flying drops or masses
From this reading Since I was five-and-twenty, in tip-top health, and Irish by descent, I whistled while the windswept drops splashed the shine from my shoes.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
summitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
possessing sweep
From this reading A chill wind swept across the city and penetrated to the marrow.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Rain had sloshed down since midnight so that the gutter in front of me was a turbid little river.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was a dismal, sodden morning, with heavy clouds banked in the western sky.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
tip-topadverb
to the highest extent
From this reading Since I was five-and-twenty, in tip-top health, and Irish by descent, I whistled while the windswept drops splashed the shine from my shoes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A chill wind swept across the city and penetrated to the marrow.
turbidadjectiveUS /ˈtɜːrbɪd/
(of liquids) clouded as with sediment
From this reading Rain had sloshed down since midnight so that the gutter in front of me was a turbid little river.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading From the summit of the hill, three blocks above me, my car was sliding down, but I clung to the curb to postpone until the last moment a plunge into the flowing street.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a dismal, sodden morning, with heavy clouds banked in the western sky.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading It was a dismal, sodden morning, with heavy clouds banked in the western sky.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Since I was five-and-twenty, in tip-top health, and Irish by descent, I whistled while the windswept drops splashed the shine from my shoes.
whistledverbUS /ˈwɪsəld/
past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds
From this reading Since I was five-and-twenty, in tip-top health, and Irish by descent, I whistled while the windswept drops splashed the shine from my shoes.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading A chill wind swept across the city and penetrated to the marrow.
windsweptadjectiveUS /ˈwɪnswept/
open to or swept by wind
From this reading Since I was five-and-twenty, in tip-top health, and Irish by descent, I whistled while the windswept drops splashed the shine from my shoes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was a dismal, sodden morning, with heavy clouds banked in the western sky.
