used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
quickly and without warning
From this reading The girl turned back into the cabin abruptly and closed the door behind her.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The girl stood quiet in the cabin doorway looking out at the brilliant, frosty night.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The girl turned back into the cabin abruptly and closed the door behind her.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Up the mountain a wolf began howling.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
BelowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Below her, at the bottom of the little pass, the winding trail with its single strand of telephone wire beside it, showed plainly in the moonlight.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Below her, at the bottom of the little pass, the winding trail with its single strand of telephone wire beside it, showed plainly in the moonlight.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
the lower side of anything
From this reading Below her, at the bottom of the little pass, the winding trail with its single strand of telephone wire beside it, showed plainly in the moonlight.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading The girl stood quiet in the cabin doorway looking out at the brilliant, frosty night.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading The girl stood quiet in the cabin doorway looking out at the brilliant, frosty night.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The girl turned back into the cabin abruptly and closed the door behind her.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The girl turned back into the cabin abruptly and closed the door behind her.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading The girl stood quiet in the cabin doorway looking out at the brilliant, frosty night.
firnounUS /fɜːr/
nonresinous wood of a fir tree
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
frostyadjectiveUS /ˈfrɔːsti/
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
From this reading The girl stood quiet in the cabin doorway looking out at the brilliant, frosty night.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
a young female
From this reading The girl stood quiet in the cabin doorway looking out at the brilliant, frosty night.
glitteringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Below her, at the bottom of the little pass, the winding trail with its single strand of telephone wire beside it, showed plainly in the moonlight.
howlingnounUS /ˈhaʊlɪŋ/
a long loud emotional utterance
From this reading Up the mountain a wolf began howling.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The girl stood quiet in the cabin doorway looking out at the brilliant, frosty night.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The girl turned back into the cabin abruptly and closed the door behind her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Below her, at the bottom of the little pass, the winding trail with its single strand of telephone wire beside it, showed plainly in the moonlight.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Below her, at the bottom of the little pass, the winding trail with its single strand of telephone wire beside it, showed plainly in the moonlight.
LoafnounUS /loʊf/
a shaped mass of baked bread that is usually sliced before eating
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading The girl stood quiet in the cabin doorway looking out at the brilliant, frosty night.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
the light of the Moon
From this reading Below her, at the bottom of the little pass, the winding trail with its single strand of telephone wire beside it, showed plainly in the moonlight.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading Up the mountain a wolf began howling.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The girl stood quiet in the cabin doorway looking out at the brilliant, frosty night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The girl stood quiet in the cabin doorway looking out at the brilliant, frosty night.
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
go across or through
From this reading Below her, at the bottom of the little pass, the winding trail with its single strand of telephone wire beside it, showed plainly in the moonlight.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Below her, at the bottom of the little pass, the winding trail with its single strand of telephone wire beside it, showed plainly in the moonlight.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The girl stood quiet in the cabin doorway looking out at the brilliant, frosty night.
sentinelnounUS /ˈsentənəl/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Below her, at the bottom of the little pass, the winding trail with its single strand of telephone wire beside it, showed plainly in the moonlight.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Below her, at the bottom of the little pass, the winding trail with its single strand of telephone wire beside it, showed plainly in the moonlight.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
star-studded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
starkadjectiveUS /stɑːrk/
devoid of any qualifications or disguise or adornment
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The girl stood quiet in the cabin doorway looking out at the brilliant, frosty night.
strandnounUS /strænd/
a pattern forming a unity within a larger structural whole
From this reading Below her, at the bottom of the little pass, the winding trail with its single strand of telephone wire beside it, showed plainly in the moonlight.
SugarnounUS /ˈʃʊɡər/
a white crystalline carbohydrate used as a sweetener and preservative
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
summitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading Below her, at the bottom of the little pass, the winding trail with its single strand of telephone wire beside it, showed plainly in the moonlight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The girl stood quiet in the cabin doorway looking out at the brilliant, frosty night.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading Below her, at the bottom of the little pass, the winding trail with its single strand of telephone wire beside it, showed plainly in the moonlight.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The girl turned back into the cabin abruptly and closed the door behind her.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Up the mountain a wolf began howling.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Over Sugar Loaf the cold, glittering moon shone full; the big fir on its summit stood stark and black against the vivid blue of the star-studded sky behind, like a giant sentinel watching over the silent valley.
windingadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪndɪŋ/
marked by repeated turns and bends
From this reading Below her, at the bottom of the little pass, the winding trail with its single strand of telephone wire beside it, showed plainly in the moonlight.
ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading Below her, at the bottom of the little pass, the winding trail with its single strand of telephone wire beside it, showed plainly in the moonlight.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Below her, at the bottom of the little pass, the winding trail with its single strand of telephone wire beside it, showed plainly in the moonlight.
any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
From this reading Up the mountain a wolf began howling.
