adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a long, cold drive from the station at White River up into the hills.
afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading In the gloom of the December afternoon the aspect of the austere, pitiless northern winter was intensified.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
aspectnounUS /ˈæspekt/
a distinct feature or element in a problem
From this reading In the gloom of the December afternoon the aspect of the austere, pitiless northern winter was intensified.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was a long, cold drive from the station at White River up into the hills.
austereadjectiveUS /ɔːˈstɪr/
severely simple
From this reading In the gloom of the December afternoon the aspect of the austere, pitiless northern winter was intensified.
banksnounUS /bæŋks/
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading The ice of the brooks was broken in the centre like cracked sheets of glass, revealing the black water gurgling between the frozen banks.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The ice of the brooks was broken in the centre like cracked sheets of glass, revealing the black water gurgling between the frozen banks.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The ice of the brooks was broken in the centre like cracked sheets of glass, revealing the black water gurgling between the frozen banks.
blackberrynounUS /ˈblækberi/
large sweet black or very dark purple edible aggregate fruit of any of various bushes of the genus Rubus
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The ice of the brooks was broken in the centre like cracked sheets of glass, revealing the black water gurgling between the frozen banks.
brooksnounUS /brʊks/
United States literary critic and historian (1886-1963)
From this reading The ice of the brooks was broken in the centre like cracked sheets of glass, revealing the black water gurgling between the frozen banks.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
centrenounUS /ˈsentər/
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading The ice of the brooks was broken in the centre like cracked sheets of glass, revealing the black water gurgling between the frozen banks.
coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/
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 It was a long, cold drive from the station at White River up into the hills.
constantlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːnstəntli/
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
crackedadjectiveUS /krækt/
used of skin roughened as a result of cold or exposure
From this reading The ice of the brooks was broken in the centre like cracked sheets of glass, revealing the black water gurgling between the frozen banks.
crustnounUS /krʌst/
the outer layer of the Earth
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
deadadjectiveUS /ded/
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading In the gloom of the December afternoon the aspect of the austere, pitiless northern winter was intensified.
driveverbUS /draɪv/
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading It was a long, cold drive from the station at White River up into the hills.
farmverbUS /fɑːrm/
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
firsnounUS /fɜːrz/
plural of “fir” — nonresinous wood of a fir tree
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
forcedadjectiveUS /fɔːrst/
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was a long, cold drive from the station at White River up into the hills.
frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/
turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold
From this reading The ice of the brooks was broken in the centre like cracked sheets of glass, revealing the black water gurgling between the frozen banks.
glassnounUS /ɡlæs/
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading The ice of the brooks was broken in the centre like cracked sheets of glass, revealing the black water gurgling between the frozen banks.
gloomnounUS /ɡluːm/
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading In the gloom of the December afternoon the aspect of the austere, pitiless northern winter was intensified.
greennounUS /ɡriːn/
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
gurglingverbUS /ˈɡɜːrɡəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “gurgle” — flow in an irregular current with a bubbling noise
From this reading The ice of the brooks was broken in the centre like cracked sheets of glass, revealing the black water gurgling between the frozen banks.
harnessverbUS /ˈhɑːrnəs/
put a harness
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
heavilyadverbUS /ˈhevəli/
to a considerable degree
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
hillsnounUS /hɪlz/
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading It was a long, cold drive from the station at White River up into the hills.
horsesnounUS /ˈhɔːrsəz/
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
icenounUS /aɪs/
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading The ice of the brooks was broken in the centre like cracked sheets of glass, revealing the black water gurgling between the frozen banks.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the gloom of the December afternoon the aspect of the austere, pitiless northern winter was intensified.
intensifiedadjectiveUS /ɪnˈtensəfaɪd/
made more intense
From this reading In the gloom of the December afternoon the aspect of the austere, pitiless northern winter was intensified.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was a long, cold drive from the station at White River up into the hills.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a long, cold drive from the station at White River up into the hills.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The ice of the brooks was broken in the centre like cracked sheets of glass, revealing the black water gurgling between the frozen banks.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
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 It was a long, cold drive from the station at White River up into the hills.
northernadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrðərn/
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading In the gloom of the December afternoon the aspect of the austere, pitiless northern winter was intensified.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the gloom of the December afternoon the aspect of the austere, pitiless northern winter was intensified.
pinesnounUS /paɪnz/
plural of “pine” — a coniferous tree
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
pitilessadjectiveUS /ˈpɪtiləs/
without mercy or pity
From this reading In the gloom of the December afternoon the aspect of the austere, pitiless northern winter was intensified.
polishedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃt/
perfected or made shiny and smooth
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
pulledverbUS /pʊld/
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
revealingadjectiveUS /rɪˈviːlɪŋ/
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading The ice of the brooks was broken in the centre like cracked sheets of glass, revealing the black water gurgling between the frozen banks.
RivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading It was a long, cold drive from the station at White River up into the hills.
roadnounUS /roʊd/
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
roadsidenounUS /ˈroʊdsaɪd/
edge of a way or road or path
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
rough-coated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
sheetsnounUS /ʃiːts/
plural of “sheet” — any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading The ice of the brooks was broken in the centre like cracked sheets of glass, revealing the black water gurgling between the frozen banks.
shoesnounUS /ʃuːz/
a particular situation
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
slippingadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpɪŋ/
moving as on a slippery surface
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
smoothadjectiveUS /smuːð/
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
snownounUS /snoʊ/
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
stationnounUS /ˈsteɪʃən/
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading It was a long, cold drive from the station at White River up into the hills.
steadilyadverbUS /ˈstedəli/
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
stiffadjectiveUS /stɪf/
not moving or operating freely
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was a long, cold drive from the station at White River up into the hills.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
tipsnounUS /tɪps/
plural of “tip” — the extreme end of something; especially something pointed
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
tracknounUS /træk/
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was a long, cold drive from the station at White River up into the hills.
uphilladverbUS /ˈʌpˈhɪl/
against difficulties
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
vinesnounUS /vaɪnz/
plural of “vine” — a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a long, cold drive from the station at White River up into the hills.
waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/
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 The ice of the brooks was broken in the centre like cracked sheets of glass, revealing the black water gurgling between the frozen banks.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
WhitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading It was a long, cold drive from the station at White River up into the hills.
winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading In the gloom of the December afternoon the aspect of the austere, pitiless northern winter was intensified.
wood-sleds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
wornverbUS /wɔːrn/
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading The road lay steadily uphill, and the two rough-coated farm horses pulled heavily at the stiff harness, slipping constantly in the track that was worn smooth and polished by the shoes of the wood-sleds.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading A thin crust of snow through which the young pines and firs forced their green tips covered the dead blackberry vines along the roadside.
