Chapter XXXI

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

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

the state of being absent

From this reading THE FREEZING OF THE NARROW SEA Events had moved swiftly in the great northern island during Wise-as-a-she-wolf’s absence.

causing a dull and steady pain

From this reading Then came the frost, and gripped the island in an aching, relentless vise for ten days before the sky thickened to snow.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Then came the frost, and gripped the island in an aching, relentless vise for ten days before the sky thickened to snow.

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

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading They read the signs in the moss, in the flight of certain fowl, in the fur and intestines of animals.

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

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

the season when the leaves fall from the trees

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

plural of “barren” — an uninhabited wilderness that is worthless for cultivation

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Then came the frost, and gripped the island in an aching, relentless vise for ten days before the sky thickened to snow.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The snow fell steadily, for two days and two nights; and with the passing of the frozen clouds came pitiless winds from the north, sweeping between the blue and the white.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading The snow fell steadily, for two days and two nights; and with the passing of the frozen clouds came pitiless winds from the north, sweeping between the blue and the white.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Then came the frost, and gripped the island in an aching, relentless vise for ten days before the sky thickened to snow.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading They read the signs in the moss, in the flight of certain fowl, in the fur and intestines of animals.

plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible

From this reading The snow fell steadily, for two days and two nights; and with the passing of the frozen clouds came pitiless winds from the north, sweeping between the blue and the white.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Then came the frost, and gripped the island in an aching, relentless vise for ten days before the sky thickened to snow.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading THE FREEZING OF THE NARROW SEA Events had moved swiftly in the great northern island during Wise-as-a-she-wolf’s absence.

plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading THE FREEZING OF THE NARROW SEA Events had moved swiftly in the great northern island during Wise-as-a-she-wolf’s absence.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading The snow fell steadily, for two days and two nights; and with the passing of the frozen clouds came pitiless winds from the north, sweeping between the blue and the white.

a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading They read the signs in the moss, in the flight of certain fowl, in the fur and intestines of animals.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Then came the frost, and gripped the island in an aching, relentless vise for ten days before the sky thickened to snow.

plural of “forest” — the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

a domesticated gallinaceous bird thought to be descended from the red jungle fowl

From this reading They read the signs in the moss, in the flight of certain fowl, in the fur and intestines of animals.

the withdrawal of heat to change something from a liquid to a solid

From this reading THE FREEZING OF THE NARROW SEA Events had moved swiftly in the great northern island during Wise-as-a-she-wolf’s absence.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The snow fell steadily, for two days and two nights; and with the passing of the frozen clouds came pitiless winds from the north, sweeping between the blue and the white.

ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)

From this reading Then came the frost, and gripped the island in an aching, relentless vise for ten days before the sky thickened to snow.

turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold

From this reading The snow fell steadily, for two days and two nights; and with the passing of the frozen clouds came pitiless winds from the north, sweeping between the blue and the white.

the dressed hairy coat of a mammal

From this reading They read the signs in the moss, in the flight of certain fowl, in the fur and intestines of animals.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading THE FREEZING OF THE NARROW SEA Events had moved swiftly in the great northern island during Wise-as-a-she-wolf’s absence.

inflected form of “grip” — hold fast or firmly

From this reading Then came the frost, and gripped the island in an aching, relentless vise for ten days before the sky thickened to snow.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading THE FREEZING OF THE NARROW SEA Events had moved swiftly in the great northern island during Wise-as-a-she-wolf’s absence.

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

From this reading THE FREEZING OF THE NARROW SEA Events had moved swiftly in the great northern island during Wise-as-a-she-wolf’s absence.

plural of “intestine” — the part of the alimentary canal between the stomach and the anus

From this reading They read the signs in the moss, in the flight of certain fowl, in the fur and intestines of animals.

a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading THE FREEZING OF THE NARROW SEA Events had moved swiftly in the great northern island during Wise-as-a-she-wolf’s absence.

the force of workers available

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants

From this reading They read the signs in the moss, in the flight of certain fowl, in the fur and intestines of animals.

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading THE FREEZING OF THE NARROW SEA Events had moved swiftly in the great northern island during Wise-as-a-she-wolf’s absence.

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading THE FREEZING OF THE NARROW SEA Events had moved swiftly in the great northern island during Wise-as-a-she-wolf’s absence.

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading The snow fell steadily, for two days and two nights; and with the passing of the frozen clouds came pitiless winds from the north, sweeping between the blue and the white.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading The snow fell steadily, for two days and two nights; and with the passing of the frozen clouds came pitiless winds from the north, sweeping between the blue and the white.

in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading THE FREEZING OF THE NARROW SEA Events had moved swiftly in the great northern island during Wise-as-a-she-wolf’s absence.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE FREEZING OF THE NARROW SEA Events had moved swiftly in the great northern island during Wise-as-a-she-wolf’s absence.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

above and across; more than

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading The snow fell steadily, for two days and two nights; and with the passing of the frozen clouds came pitiless winds from the north, sweeping between the blue and the white.

without mercy or pity

From this reading The snow fell steadily, for two days and two nights; and with the passing of the frozen clouds came pitiless winds from the north, sweeping between the blue and the white.

past form of “predict” — make a prediction about; tell in advance

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading They read the signs in the moss, in the flight of certain fowl, in the fur and intestines of animals.

not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty

From this reading Then came the frost, and gripped the island in an aching, relentless vise for ten days before the sky thickened to snow.

coming to full development; becoming mature

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading THE FREEZING OF THE NARROW SEA Events had moved swiftly in the great northern island during Wise-as-a-she-wolf’s absence.

severely critical

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading They read the signs in the moss, in the flight of certain fowl, in the fur and intestines of animals.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading Then came the frost, and gripped the island in an aching, relentless vise for ten days before the sky thickened to snow.

unlawful premeditated killing of a human being by a human being

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading Then came the frost, and gripped the island in an aching, relentless vise for ten days before the sky thickened to snow.

at a steady rate or pace

From this reading The snow fell steadily, for two days and two nights; and with the passing of the frozen clouds came pitiless winds from the north, sweeping between the blue and the white.

a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination

From this reading The snow fell steadily, for two days and two nights; and with the passing of the frozen clouds came pitiless winds from the north, sweeping between the blue and the white.

in a swift manner

From this reading THE FREEZING OF THE NARROW SEA Events had moved swiftly in the great northern island during Wise-as-a-she-wolf’s absence.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading Then came the frost, and gripped the island in an aching, relentless vise for ten days before the sky thickened to snow.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

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

From this reading THE FREEZING OF THE NARROW SEA Events had moved swiftly in the great northern island during Wise-as-a-she-wolf’s absence.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then came the frost, and gripped the island in an aching, relentless vise for ten days before the sky thickened to snow.

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

From this reading They read the signs in the moss, in the flight of certain fowl, in the fur and intestines of animals.

made or having become thick

From this reading Then came the frost, and gripped the island in an aching, relentless vise for ten days before the sky thickened to snow.

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

From this reading Then came the frost, and gripped the island in an aching, relentless vise for ten days before the sky thickened to snow.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading The snow fell steadily, for two days and two nights; and with the passing of the frozen clouds came pitiless winds from the north, sweeping between the blue and the white.

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

a holding device attached to a workbench; has two jaws to hold workpiece firmly in place

From this reading Then came the frost, and gripped the island in an aching, relentless vise for ten days before the sky thickened to snow.

a Caucasian

From this reading The snow fell steadily, for two days and two nights; and with the passing of the frozen clouds came pitiless winds from the north, sweeping between the blue and the white.

plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading The snow fell steadily, for two days and two nights; and with the passing of the frozen clouds came pitiless winds from the north, sweeping between the blue and the white.

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

From this reading As autumn stole over the forests and barrens, ripening, searing, and slaying, old men predicted a winter of more than usual severity.

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

From this reading THE FREEZING OF THE NARROW SEA Events had moved swiftly in the great northern island during Wise-as-a-she-wolf’s absence.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The snow fell steadily, for two days and two nights; and with the passing of the frozen clouds came pitiless winds from the north, sweeping between the blue and the white.