used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was on him now with a swoop and a roar.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was on him now with a swoop and a roar.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In that seething turmoil of the elements he was as helpless as a child.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He could not see more than a few feet before him.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading He was in the thick of a mud-grey darkness, a bitter, blank darkness full of whirling wind-eddies and vast flurries of snow.
blankadjectiveUS /blæŋk/
(of a surface) not written or printed on
From this reading He was in the thick of a mud-grey darkness, a bitter, blank darkness full of whirling wind-eddies and vast flurries of snow.
blindedadjectiveUS /ˈblaɪndɪd/
deprived of sight
From this reading The stinging flakes blinded him; the coal-black night engulfed him.
a young person of either sex
From this reading In that seething turmoil of the elements he was as helpless as a child.
coal-blackadjective
of the blackest black; similar to the color of jet or coal
From this reading The stinging flakes blinded him; the coal-black night engulfed him.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not see more than a few feet before him.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He was in the thick of a mud-grey darkness, a bitter, blank darkness full of whirling wind-eddies and vast flurries of snow.
elementsnounUS /ˈeləmənts/
violent or severe weather (viewed as caused by the action of the four elements)
From this reading In that seething turmoil of the elements he was as helpless as a child.
engulfedverbUS /ɪnˈɡʌlft/
past form of “engulf” — devote (oneself) fully to
From this reading The stinging flakes blinded him; the coal-black night engulfed him.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He could not see more than a few feet before him.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He could not see more than a few feet before him.
flakesnounUS /fleɪks/
plural of “flake” — a crystal of snow
From this reading The stinging flakes blinded him; the coal-black night engulfed him.
flurriesnounUS /ˈflɜːriz/
plural of “flurry” — a rapid active commotion
From this reading He was in the thick of a mud-grey darkness, a bitter, blank darkness full of whirling wind-eddies and vast flurries of snow.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading He was in the thick of a mud-grey darkness, a bitter, blank darkness full of whirling wind-eddies and vast flurries of snow.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was in the thick of a mud-grey darkness, a bitter, blank darkness full of whirling wind-eddies and vast flurries of snow.
lacking in or deprived of strength or power
From this reading In that seething turmoil of the elements he was as helpless as a child.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was on him now with a swoop and a roar.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was in the thick of a mud-grey darkness, a bitter, blank darkness full of whirling wind-eddies and vast flurries of snow.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was on him now with a swoop and a roar.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He could not see more than a few feet before him.
mud-grey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in the thick of a mud-grey darkness, a bitter, blank darkness full of whirling wind-eddies and vast flurries of snow.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The stinging flakes blinded him; the coal-black night engulfed him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not see more than a few feet before him.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was on him now with a swoop and a roar.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was in the thick of a mud-grey darkness, a bitter, blank darkness full of whirling wind-eddies and vast flurries of snow.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was on him now with a swoop and a roar.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading It was on him now with a swoop and a roar.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He could not see more than a few feet before him.
seethingadjectiveUS /ˈsiːðɪŋ/
in constant agitation
From this reading In that seething turmoil of the elements he was as helpless as a child.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading He was in the thick of a mud-grey darkness, a bitter, blank darkness full of whirling wind-eddies and vast flurries of snow.
stingingnounUS /ˈstɪŋɪŋ/
a kind of pain; something as sudden and painful as being stung
From this reading The stinging flakes blinded him; the coal-black night engulfed him.
swoopnounUS /swuːp/
(music) rapid sliding up or down the musical scale
From this reading It was on him now with a swoop and a roar.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He could not see more than a few feet before him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In that seething turmoil of the elements he was as helpless as a child.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was in the thick of a mud-grey darkness, a bitter, blank darkness full of whirling wind-eddies and vast flurries of snow.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading He was in the thick of a mud-grey darkness, a bitter, blank darkness full of whirling wind-eddies and vast flurries of snow.
turmoilnounUS /ˈtɜːrmɔɪl/
a violent disturbance
From this reading In that seething turmoil of the elements he was as helpless as a child.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading He was in the thick of a mud-grey darkness, a bitter, blank darkness full of whirling wind-eddies and vast flurries of snow.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was on him now with a swoop and a roar.
whirlingnounUS /ˈwɜːrlɪŋ/
the act of rotating in a circle or spiral
From this reading He was in the thick of a mud-grey darkness, a bitter, blank darkness full of whirling wind-eddies and vast flurries of snow.
wind-eddies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in the thick of a mud-grey darkness, a bitter, blank darkness full of whirling wind-eddies and vast flurries of snow.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was on him now with a swoop and a roar.
