Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading CHRISTMAS DAY AT WINDYRIDGE Christmas has come and gone, and so far not a flake of snow has fallen.

the property of a more than adequate quantity or supply

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading CHRISTMAS DAY AT WINDYRIDGE Christmas has come and gone, and so far not a flake of snow has fallen.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

past form of “associate” — make a logical or causal connection

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading CHRISTMAS DAY AT WINDYRIDGE Christmas has come and gone, and so far not a flake of snow has fallen.

relating to or located in the atmosphere

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

plural of “attraction” — the force by which one object attracts another

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

completely unclothed

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading The starlings were whistling as cheerily as if spring was come, and a solitary missel-thrush was diligently practising a Christmas ditty on the bare branches of the hawthorn.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

in a cheerful manner

From this reading The starlings were whistling as cheerily as if spring was come, and a solitary missel-thrush was diligently practising a Christmas ditty on the bare branches of the hawthorn.

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading CHRISTMAS DAY AT WINDYRIDGE Christmas has come and gone, and so far not a flake of snow has fallen.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading CHRISTMAS DAY AT WINDYRIDGE Christmas has come and gone, and so far not a flake of snow has fallen.

the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading CHRISTMAS DAY AT WINDYRIDGE Christmas has come and gone, and so far not a flake of snow has fallen.

permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

with diligence; in a diligent manner

From this reading The starlings were whistling as cheerily as if spring was come, and a solitary missel-thrush was diligently practising a Christmas ditty on the bare branches of the hawthorn.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

a short simple song (or the words of a poem intended to be sung)

From this reading The starlings were whistling as cheerily as if spring was come, and a solitary missel-thrush was diligently practising a Christmas ditty on the bare branches of the hawthorn.

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

affording satisfaction or pleasure

From this reading Christmas Day itself, however, proved enjoyable if not wildly exciting.

creating or arousing excitement

From this reading Christmas Day itself, however, proved enjoyable if not wildly exciting.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading CHRISTMAS DAY AT WINDYRIDGE Christmas has come and gone, and so far not a flake of snow has fallen.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading CHRISTMAS DAY AT WINDYRIDGE Christmas has come and gone, and so far not a flake of snow has fallen.

form into flakes

From this reading CHRISTMAS DAY AT WINDYRIDGE Christmas has come and gone, and so far not a flake of snow has fallen.

droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

destroyed or killed

From this reading CHRISTMAS DAY AT WINDYRIDGE Christmas has come and gone, and so far not a flake of snow has fallen.

(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading CHRISTMAS DAY AT WINDYRIDGE Christmas has come and gone, and so far not a flake of snow has fallen.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

a spring-flowering shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegus

From this reading The starlings were whistling as cheerily as if spring was come, and a solitary missel-thrush was diligently practising a Christmas ditty on the bare branches of the hawthorn.

plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Christmas Day itself, however, proved enjoyable if not wildly exciting.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Christmas Day itself, however, proved enjoyable if not wildly exciting.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Christmas Day itself, however, proved enjoyable if not wildly exciting.

showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The starlings were whistling as cheerily as if spring was come, and a solitary missel-thrush was diligently practising a Christmas ditty on the bare branches of the hawthorn.

in a misty manner

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

plural of “native” — an indigenous person who was born in a particular place

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

not any; not one

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

not one, and not any

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading CHRISTMAS DAY AT WINDYRIDGE Christmas has come and gone, and so far not a flake of snow has fallen.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading CHRISTMAS DAY AT WINDYRIDGE Christmas has come and gone, and so far not a flake of snow has fallen.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The starlings were whistling as cheerily as if spring was come, and a solitary missel-thrush was diligently practising a Christmas ditty on the bare branches of the hawthorn.

plural of “petal” — part of the perianth that is usually brightly colored

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The starlings were whistling as cheerily as if spring was come, and a solitary missel-thrush was diligently practising a Christmas ditty on the bare branches of the hawthorn.

established beyond doubt

From this reading Christmas Day itself, however, proved enjoyable if not wildly exciting.

free of extraneous elements of any kind

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

except for; apart from

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

express in words

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

marked by exceptional merit

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading CHRISTMAS DAY AT WINDYRIDGE Christmas has come and gone, and so far not a flake of snow has fallen.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading CHRISTMAS DAY AT WINDYRIDGE Christmas has come and gone, and so far not a flake of snow has fallen.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

characterized by or preferring solitude

From this reading The starlings were whistling as cheerily as if spring was come, and a solitary missel-thrush was diligently practising a Christmas ditty on the bare branches of the hawthorn.

express in speech

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

the season of growth

From this reading The starlings were whistling as cheerily as if spring was come, and a solitary missel-thrush was diligently practising a Christmas ditty on the bare branches of the hawthorn.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The starlings were whistling as cheerily as if spring was come, and a solitary missel-thrush was diligently practising a Christmas ditty on the bare branches of the hawthorn.

inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The starlings were whistling as cheerily as if spring was come, and a solitary missel-thrush was diligently practising a Christmas ditty on the bare branches of the hawthorn.

at the time that

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture

From this reading The starlings were whistling as cheerily as if spring was come, and a solitary missel-thrush was diligently practising a Christmas ditty on the bare branches of the hawthorn.

a Caucasian

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

belonging to which person

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree

From this reading Christmas Day itself, however, proved enjoyable if not wildly exciting.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading CHRISTMAS DAY AT WINDYRIDGE Christmas has come and gone, and so far not a flake of snow has fallen.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.

marked by wrinkles

From this reading The air was "soft," as the natives say, and the sun was shining mistily when I stepped into the garden, now bare of attractions save for the Christmas roses, whose pure white petals bowed their heads in kindly greeting to the wrinkled face of Earth, their mother.

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading Rain there has been in abundance, and in the distance dense banks of fog, but no frost to speak of, and none of the atmospheric conditions I have always associated with a northern Yuletide.