2
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading December 2.--Our drift lately has been almost imperceptible.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
agitationnounUS /ˌædʒəˈteɪʃən/
a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading December 2.--Our drift lately has been almost imperceptible.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading December 2.--Our drift lately has been almost imperceptible.
bergsnounUS /bɜːrɡz/
plural of “berg” — a large mass of ice floating at sea; usually broken off of a polar glacier
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
without stop or interruption
From this reading SUMMER (CONTINUED).
continuingadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːɪŋ/
remaining in force or being carried on without letup
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Since it takes the pack a long time to gain momentum, a wind which does not last for several days is of no use unless it is a tempest.
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading December 2.--Our drift lately has been almost imperceptible.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
separated into parts or pieces
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Since it takes the pack a long time to gain momentum, a wind which does not last for several days is of no use unless it is a tempest.
driftverbUS /drɪft/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading December 2.--Our drift lately has been almost imperceptible.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
feebleadjectiveUS /ˈfiːbəl/
pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
obtain
From this reading Since it takes the pack a long time to gain momentum, a wind which does not last for several days is of no use unless it is a tempest.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading December 2.--Our drift lately has been almost imperceptible.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
imperceptibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmpərˈseptɪbəl/
impossible or difficult to perceive by the mind or senses
From this reading December 2.--Our drift lately has been almost imperceptible.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
ineffectualadjectiveUS /ˌɪnəˈfektʃuːəl/
not producing an intended effect
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Since it takes the pack a long time to gain momentum, a wind which does not last for several days is of no use unless it is a tempest.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Since it takes the pack a long time to gain momentum, a wind which does not last for several days is of no use unless it is a tempest.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
immediately past
From this reading Since it takes the pack a long time to gain momentum, a wind which does not last for several days is of no use unless it is a tempest.
in the recent past
From this reading December 2.--Our drift lately has been almost imperceptible.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
momentumnounUS /moʊˈmentəm/
an impelling force or strength
From this reading Since it takes the pack a long time to gain momentum, a wind which does not last for several days is of no use unless it is a tempest.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
used to form the superlative
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
navigableadjectiveUS /ˈnævəɡəbəl/
able to be sailed on or through safely
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
not any; not one
From this reading Since it takes the pack a long time to gain momentum, a wind which does not last for several days is of no use unless it is a tempest.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Since it takes the pack a long time to gain momentum, a wind which does not last for several days is of no use unless it is a tempest.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading December 2.--Our drift lately has been almost imperceptible.
arrange in a container
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Since it takes the pack a long time to gain momentum, a wind which does not last for several days is of no use unless it is a tempest.
shiftingadjectiveUS /ˈʃɪftɪŋ/
continuously varying
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
and nothing more
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since it takes the pack a long time to gain momentum, a wind which does not last for several days is of no use unless it is a tempest.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading SUMMER (CONTINUED).
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
From this reading Since it takes the pack a long time to gain momentum, a wind which does not last for several days is of no use unless it is a tempest.
tempestnounUS /ˈtempəst/
a violent commotion or disturbance
From this reading Since it takes the pack a long time to gain momentum, a wind which does not last for several days is of no use unless it is a tempest.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
tidesnounUS /taɪdz/
plural of “tide” — the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
except if; if not
From this reading Since it takes the pack a long time to gain momentum, a wind which does not last for several days is of no use unless it is a tempest.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
the act of using
From this reading Since it takes the pack a long time to gain momentum, a wind which does not last for several days is of no use unless it is a tempest.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Since it takes the pack a long time to gain momentum, a wind which does not last for several days is of no use unless it is a tempest.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading For most of the time the wind has followed the sun around the horizon, and nothing could be more ineffectual in making ice navigable than light, shifting winds.
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 winds, always feeble and never continuing long in one direction, have simply kept up a little agitation in the pack while the tides have driven the bergs to and fro a little, and thus the pack has become more and more divided.
