Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

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

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

the sterilization of an animal

From this reading A drift--constant, restless, never altering--sped over the level plain like the dust on a high-road before a steady wind.

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

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

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

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading A drift--constant, restless, never altering--sped over the level plain like the dust on a high-road before a steady wind.

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading The snow was falling softly and steadily, falling, as it never falls in England, in little more than fine powder, with a temperature forty degrees below freezing-point.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor

From this reading This white scud--a flying scud of frozen water--was singularly like the scud that is blown from the crest of the waves by a cyclone in the China Seas.

seemingly boundless in amount, number, degree, or especially extent

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

lacking funds

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

rub with a brush, or as if with a brush

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading This white scud--a flying scud of frozen water--was singularly like the scud that is blown from the crest of the waves by a cyclone in the China Seas.

a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world

From this reading This white scud--a flying scud of frozen water--was singularly like the scud that is blown from the crest of the waves by a cyclone in the China Seas.

unvarying in nature

From this reading A drift--constant, restless, never altering--sped over the level plain like the dust on a high-road before a steady wind.

the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave

From this reading This white scud--a flying scud of frozen water--was singularly like the scud that is blown from the crest of the waves by a cyclone in the China Seas.

(meteorology) rapid inward circulation of air masses about a low pressure center; circling counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern

From this reading This white scud--a flying scud of frozen water--was singularly like the scud that is blown from the crest of the waves by a cyclone in the China Seas.

amazingly impressive; suggestive of the flashing of lightning

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

plural of “degree” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading The snow was falling softly and steadily, falling, as it never falls in England, in little more than fine powder, with a temperature forty degrees below freezing-point.

having abnormal sagging of the spine (especially in horses)

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading A drift--constant, restless, never altering--sped over the level plain like the dust on a high-road before a steady wind.

remove the dust from

From this reading A drift--constant, restless, never altering--sped over the level plain like the dust on a high-road before a steady wind.

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading The snow was falling softly and steadily, falling, as it never falls in England, in little more than fine powder, with a temperature forty degrees below freezing-point.

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading The snow was falling softly and steadily, falling, as it never falls in England, in little more than fine powder, with a temperature forty degrees below freezing-point.

the petals or sepals of a flower that bend downward (especially the outer perianth of an iris)

From this reading The snow was falling softly and steadily, falling, as it never falls in England, in little more than fine powder, with a temperature forty degrees below freezing-point.

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading The snow was falling softly and steadily, falling, as it never falls in England, in little more than fine powder, with a temperature forty degrees below freezing-point.

moving swiftly

From this reading This white scud--a flying scud of frozen water--was singularly like the scud that is blown from the crest of the waves by a cyclone in the China Seas.

being ten more than thirty

From this reading The snow was falling softly and steadily, falling, as it never falls in England, in little more than fine powder, with a temperature forty degrees below freezing-point.

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

From this reading The snow was falling softly and steadily, falling, as it never falls in England, in little more than fine powder, with a temperature forty degrees below freezing-point.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

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

From this reading This white scud--a flying scud of frozen water--was singularly like the scud that is blown from the crest of the waves by a cyclone in the China Seas.

the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

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

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

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

From this reading A drift--constant, restless, never altering--sped over the level plain like the dust on a high-road before a steady wind.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

a long loud emotional utterance

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

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

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading This white scud--a flying scud of frozen water--was singularly like the scud that is blown from the crest of the waves by a cyclone in the China Seas.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The snow was falling softly and steadily, falling, as it never falls in England, in little more than fine powder, with a temperature forty degrees below freezing-point.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

the direction in which the wind is blowing

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading A drift--constant, restless, never altering--sped over the level plain like the dust on a high-road before a steady wind.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The snow was falling softly and steadily, falling, as it never falls in England, in little more than fine powder, with a temperature forty degrees below freezing-point.

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

From this reading The snow was falling softly and steadily, falling, as it never falls in England, in little more than fine powder, with a temperature forty degrees below freezing-point.

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

a river in northwestern Russia flowing generally west into the Gulf of Finland

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading The snow was falling softly and steadily, falling, as it never falls in England, in little more than fine powder, with a temperature forty degrees below freezing-point.

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

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A drift--constant, restless, never altering--sped over the level plain like the dust on a high-road before a steady wind.

above and across; more than

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

a coniferous tree

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading A drift--constant, restless, never altering--sped over the level plain like the dust on a high-road before a steady wind.

plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized

From this reading The snow was falling softly and steadily, falling, as it never falls in England, in little more than fine powder, with a temperature forty degrees below freezing-point.

worried and uneasy

From this reading A drift--constant, restless, never altering--sped over the level plain like the dust on a high-road before a steady wind.

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

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

a former communist country in eastern Europe and northern Asia; established in 1922; included Russia and 14 other soviet socialist republics (Ukraine and Byelorussia and others); officially dissolved 31 December 1991

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

run or move very quickly or hastily

From this reading This white scud--a flying scud of frozen water--was singularly like the scud that is blown from the crest of the waves by a cyclone in the China Seas.

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

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

plural of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading This white scud--a flying scud of frozen water--was singularly like the scud that is blown from the crest of the waves by a cyclone in the China Seas.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

in a singular manner or to a singular degree

From this reading This white scud--a flying scud of frozen water--was singularly like the scud that is blown from the crest of the waves by a cyclone in the China Seas.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

covered with snow

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

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

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

with low volume

From this reading The snow was falling softly and steadily, falling, as it never falls in England, in little more than fine powder, with a temperature forty degrees below freezing-point.

inflected form of “speed” — move hurridly

From this reading A drift--constant, restless, never altering--sped over the level plain like the dust on a high-road before a steady wind.

completely neat and clean

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

at a steady rate or pace

From this reading The snow was falling softly and steadily, falling, as it never falls in England, in little more than fine powder, with a temperature forty degrees below freezing-point.

make steady

From this reading A drift--constant, restless, never altering--sped over the level plain like the dust on a high-road before a steady wind.

inferior in size or quality

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

the act of following someone secretly

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

shedding tears

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment (corresponding to its molecular activity)

From this reading The snow was falling softly and steadily, falling, as it never falls in England, in little more than fine powder, with a temperature forty degrees below freezing-point.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The snow was falling softly and steadily, falling, as it never falls in England, in little more than fine powder, with a temperature forty degrees below freezing-point.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

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

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This white scud--a flying scud of frozen water--was singularly like the scud that is blown from the crest of the waves by a cyclone in the China Seas.

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

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

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

From this reading Any object that broke the wind--a stunted pine, a broken tree-trunk, a Government road-post--had at its leeward side a high, narrow snow-drift tailing off to the dead level of the plain.

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

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The snow was falling softly and steadily, falling, as it never falls in England, in little more than fine powder, with a temperature forty degrees below freezing-point.

clean by virtue of having been washed in water

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading This white scud--a flying scud of frozen water--was singularly like the scud that is blown from the crest of the waves by a cyclone in the China Seas.

plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading This white scud--a flying scud of frozen water--was singularly like the scud that is blown from the crest of the waves by a cyclone in the China Seas.

a Caucasian

From this reading This white scud--a flying scud of frozen water--was singularly like the scud that is blown from the crest of the waves by a cyclone in the China Seas.

changing to a lighter color

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

in the company of; together with

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading HOME A tearing, howling wind from the north--from the boundless snow-clad plains of Russia that lie between the Neva and the Yellow Sea; a gray sky washed over as with a huge brush dipped in dirty whitening; and the plains of Tver a spotless, dazzling level of snow.