used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
AdieunounUS /əˈduː/
a farewell remark
From this reading The Vanishing of the Prince "Now to my word: It is, _Adieu, adieu! remember me_."
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The air smelled like early winter, and was vibrant with the melody of cowbells.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The air smelled like early winter, and was vibrant with the melody of cowbells.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
cowbellsnounUS /ˈkaʊbelz/
plural of “cowbell” — a bell hung around the neck of cow so that the cow can be easily located
From this reading The air smelled like early winter, and was vibrant with the melody of cowbells.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading On snow-covered eminences near and far, dark, sentinel larches watched us, weeping slow tears from every naked spine.
dippedadjectiveUS /dɪpt/
having abnormal sagging of the spine (especially in horses)
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The air smelled like early winter, and was vibrant with the melody of cowbells.
eminencesnounUS /ˈemənənsɪz/
plural of “eminence” — high status importance owing to marked superiority
From this reading On snow-covered eminences near and far, dark, sentinel larches watched us, weeping slow tears from every naked spine.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading On snow-covered eminences near and far, dark, sentinel larches watched us, weeping slow tears from every naked spine.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading On snow-covered eminences near and far, dark, sentinel larches watched us, weeping slow tears from every naked spine.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Vanishing of the Prince "Now to my word: It is, _Adieu, adieu! remember me_."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Vanishing of the Prince "Now to my word: It is, _Adieu, adieu! remember me_."
larches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On snow-covered eminences near and far, dark, sentinel larches watched us, weeping slow tears from every naked spine.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The air smelled like early winter, and was vibrant with the melody of cowbells.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Vanishing of the Prince "Now to my word: It is, _Adieu, adieu! remember me_."
melodynounUS /ˈmelədi/
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading The air smelled like early winter, and was vibrant with the melody of cowbells.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The Vanishing of the Prince "Now to my word: It is, _Adieu, adieu! remember me_."
nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/
completely unclothed
From this reading On snow-covered eminences near and far, dark, sentinel larches watched us, weeping slow tears from every naked spine.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading On snow-covered eminences near and far, dark, sentinel larches watched us, weeping slow tears from every naked spine.
nightcapnoun
an alcoholic drink taken at bedtime; often alcoholic
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The Vanishing of the Prince "Now to my word: It is, _Adieu, adieu! remember me_."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Vanishing of the Prince "Now to my word: It is, _Adieu, adieu! remember me_."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On snow-covered eminences near and far, dark, sentinel larches watched us, weeping slow tears from every naked spine.
a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)
From this reading The Vanishing of the Prince "Now to my word: It is, _Adieu, adieu! remember me_."
To recall to mind.
From this reading The Vanishing of the Prince "Now to my word: It is, _Adieu, adieu! remember me_."
sentinelnounUS /ˈsentənəl/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading On snow-covered eminences near and far, dark, sentinel larches watched us, weeping slow tears from every naked spine.
SHAKESPEAREnounUS /ˈʃeɪkspiːr/
English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)
From this reading --SHAKESPEARE.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading On snow-covered eminences near and far, dark, sentinel larches watched us, weeping slow tears from every naked spine.
smelledverbUS /smeld/
past form of “smell” — inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense
From this reading The air smelled like early winter, and was vibrant with the melody of cowbells.
snow-coveredadjective
covered with snow
From this reading On snow-covered eminences near and far, dark, sentinel larches watched us, weeping slow tears from every naked spine.
snow-fog
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
spinenounUS /spaɪn/
the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord
From this reading On snow-covered eminences near and far, dark, sentinel larches watched us, weeping slow tears from every naked spine.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
summitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading On snow-covered eminences near and far, dark, sentinel larches watched us, weeping slow tears from every naked spine.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Vanishing of the Prince "Now to my word: It is, _Adieu, adieu! remember me_."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Vanishing of the Prince "Now to my word: It is, _Adieu, adieu! remember me_."
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading On snow-covered eminences near and far, dark, sentinel larches watched us, weeping slow tears from every naked spine.
VanishingnounUS /ˈvænɪʃɪŋ/
a sudden or mysterious disappearance
From this reading The Vanishing of the Prince "Now to my word: It is, _Adieu, adieu! remember me_."
vibrantadjectiveUS /ˈvaɪbrənt/
vigorous and animated
From this reading The air smelled like early winter, and was vibrant with the melody of cowbells.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The air smelled like early winter, and was vibrant with the melody of cowbells.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading On snow-covered eminences near and far, dark, sentinel larches watched us, weeping slow tears from every naked spine.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
showing sorrow
From this reading On snow-covered eminences near and far, dark, sentinel larches watched us, weeping slow tears from every naked spine.
a Caucasian
From this reading As we dipped down below the summit of the mountain, we stepped from under the snow-fog, as if it had been a great white, hanging nightcap.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The air smelled like early winter, and was vibrant with the melody of cowbells.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The air smelled like early winter, and was vibrant with the melody of cowbells.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading The Vanishing of the Prince "Now to my word: It is, _Adieu, adieu! remember me_."
