used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD Macdonald drove his team into the teeth of the storm.
anew
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
terminate
From this reading Not once but fifty times Macdonald left the gee-pole to break a way through snow-waves for the sled.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Not once but fifty times Macdonald left the gee-pole to break a way through snow-waves for the sled.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The wind came in gusts.
catboatnoun
a sailboat with a single mast set far forward
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
comparativeadjectiveUS /kəmˈperətɪv/
relating to or based on or involving comparison
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
crawlverbUS /krɔːl/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD Macdonald drove his team into the teeth of the storm.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading High drifts made the trail difficult.
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
driftsnounUS /drɪfts/
plural of “drift” — a force that moves something along
From this reading High drifts made the trail difficult.
drivernounUS /ˈdraɪvər/
the operator of a motor vehicle
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD Macdonald drove his team into the teeth of the storm.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading Not once but fifty times Macdonald left the gee-pole to break a way through snow-waves for the sled.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Not once but fifty times Macdonald left the gee-pole to break a way through snow-waves for the sled.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD Macdonald drove his team into the teeth of the storm.
galenounUS /ɡeɪl/
a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
gee-pole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not once but fifty times Macdonald left the gee-pole to break a way through snow-waves for the sled.
gustsnounUS /ɡʌsts/
plural of “gust” — a strong current of air
From this reading The wind came in gusts.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading High drifts made the trail difficult.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD Macdonald drove his team into the teeth of the storm.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The wind came in gusts.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD Macdonald drove his team into the teeth of the storm.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Not once but fifty times Macdonald left the gee-pole to break a way through snow-waves for the sled.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
Macdonald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD Macdonald drove his team into the teeth of the storm.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading High drifts made the trail difficult.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD Macdonald drove his team into the teeth of the storm.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not once but fifty times Macdonald left the gee-pole to break a way through snow-waves for the sled.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD Macdonald drove his team into the teeth of the storm.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
on one occasion
From this reading Not once but fifty times Macdonald left the gee-pole to break a way through snow-waves for the sled.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
only a very short time before
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
slappedverbUS /slæpt/
inflected form of “slap” — hit with something flat, like a paddle or the open hand
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
slednounUS /sled/
a vehicle mounted on runners and pulled by horses or dogs; for transportation over snow
From this reading Not once but fifty times Macdonald left the gee-pole to break a way through snow-waves for the sled.
snow-waves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not once but fifty times Macdonald left the gee-pole to break a way through snow-waves for the sled.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
squallsnounUS /skwɔːlz/
plural of “squall” — sudden violent winds; often accompanied by precipitation
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD Macdonald drove his team into the teeth of the storm.
teamnounUS /tiːm/
a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
From this reading A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD Macdonald drove his team into the teeth of the storm.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD Macdonald drove his team into the teeth of the storm.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD Macdonald drove his team into the teeth of the storm.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Not once but fifty times Macdonald left the gee-pole to break a way through snow-waves for the sled.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Not once but fifty times Macdonald left the gee-pole to break a way through snow-waves for the sled.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Not once but fifty times Macdonald left the gee-pole to break a way through snow-waves for the sled.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading High drifts made the trail difficult.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Not once but fifty times Macdonald left the gee-pole to break a way through snow-waves for the sled.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
whippingnounUS /ˈwɪpɪŋ/
beating with a whip or strap or rope as a form of punishment
From this reading Sometimes the gale was so stiff that the dogs could scarcely crawl forward against it; again there were moments of comparative stillness, followed by squalls that slapped the driver in the face like the whipping of a loose sail on a catboat.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The wind came in gusts.
