used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading ‘What a day for skating!’ said Ronald at breakfast-time, after good-mornings and good wishes had been passed round.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading ‘It almost makes one wish that Christmas had not fallen on a Sunday this year.’
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN INVITATION.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CHRISTMAS Day dawned clear and bright.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading ‘What a day for skating!’ said Ronald at breakfast-time, after good-mornings and good wishes had been passed round.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
breakfast-time
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘What a day for skating!’ said Ronald at breakfast-time, after good-mornings and good wishes had been passed round.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading CHRISTMAS Day dawned clear and bright.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading CHRISTMAS Day dawned clear and bright.
rid of obstructions
From this reading CHRISTMAS Day dawned clear and bright.
dawnedverbUS /dɔːnd/
past form of “dawn” — become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
From this reading CHRISTMAS Day dawned clear and bright.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading CHRISTMAS Day dawned clear and bright.
diamondsnounUS /ˈdaɪməndz/
plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading ‘It almost makes one wish that Christmas had not fallen on a Sunday this year.’
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
frostnounUS /frɔːst/
ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
glitteredverbUS /ˈɡlɪtərd/
past form of “glitter” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
destroyed or killed
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading ‘What a day for skating!’ said Ronald at breakfast-time, after good-mornings and good wishes had been passed round.
good-mornings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘What a day for skating!’ said Ronald at breakfast-time, after good-mornings and good wishes had been passed round.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading AN INVITATION.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading ‘It almost makes one wish that Christmas had not fallen on a Sunday this year.’
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading ‘It almost makes one wish that Christmas had not fallen on a Sunday this year.’
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ‘It almost makes one wish that Christmas had not fallen on a Sunday this year.’
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading ‘What a day for skating!’ said Ronald at breakfast-time, after good-mornings and good wishes had been passed round.
prospectsnounUS /ˈprɑːspekts/
plural of “prospect” — the possibility of future success
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
Ronald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘What a day for skating!’ said Ronald at breakfast-time, after good-mornings and good wishes had been passed round.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading ‘What a day for skating!’ said Ronald at breakfast-time, after good-mornings and good wishes had been passed round.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ‘What a day for skating!’ said Ronald at breakfast-time, after good-mornings and good wishes had been passed round.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
skatingnounUS /ˈskeɪtɪŋ/
the sport of gliding on skates
From this reading ‘What a day for skating!’ said Ronald at breakfast-time, after good-mornings and good wishes had been passed round.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading ‘It almost makes one wish that Christmas had not fallen on a Sunday this year.’
the rays of the sun
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ‘It almost makes one wish that Christmas had not fallen on a Sunday this year.’
thawnounUS /θɔː/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading ‘It almost makes one wish that Christmas had not fallen on a Sunday this year.’
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
twigverbUS /twɪɡ/
branch out in a twiglike manner
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
precisely as stated
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading ‘What a day for skating!’ said Ronald at breakfast-time, after good-mornings and good wishes had been passed round.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading ‘It almost makes one wish that Christmas had not fallen on a Sunday this year.’
plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire
From this reading ‘What a day for skating!’ said Ronald at breakfast-time, after good-mornings and good wishes had been passed round.
in the company of; together with
From this reading All prospects of a thaw seemed to be gone, for the frost had been very keen during the night, and every little twig on the trees glittered in the sunshine as if it were set with diamonds.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading ‘It almost makes one wish that Christmas had not fallen on a Sunday this year.’
