Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading Rancher Winston stood shivering in a little Canadian settlement in the great lonely land which runs north from the American frontier to Athabasca.

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

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

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

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

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

From this reading Rancher Winston stood shivering in a little Canadian settlement in the great lonely land which runs north from the American frontier to Athabasca.

next to; at the side of

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

marked by strong resentment or cynicism

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

briefly shut the eyes

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

confined by bonds

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

of or relating to Canada or its people

From this reading Rancher Winston stood shivering in a little Canadian settlement in the great lonely land which runs north from the American frontier to Athabasca.

past form of “chill” — depress or discourage

From this reading It chilled Winston, and his furs, somewhat tattered, gave him little protection.

a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

a grouping of a number of similar things

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

in an expectant manner

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

enclose in or as if in a frame

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Rancher Winston stood shivering in a little Canadian settlement in the great lonely land which runs north from the American frontier to Athabasca.

a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country

From this reading Rancher Winston stood shivering in a little Canadian settlement in the great lonely land which runs north from the American frontier to Athabasca.

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

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

plural of “fur” — the dressed hairy coat of a mammal

From this reading It chilled Winston, and his furs, somewhat tattered, gave him little protection.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading It chilled Winston, and his furs, somewhat tattered, gave him little protection.

-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

an alert and refreshed state

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Rancher Winston stood shivering in a little Canadian settlement in the great lonely land which runs north from the American frontier to Athabasca.

the act of grasping

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It chilled Winston, and his furs, somewhat tattered, gave him little protection.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading It chilled Winston, and his furs, somewhat tattered, gave him little protection.

a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

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

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading Rancher Winston stood shivering in a little Canadian settlement in the great lonely land which runs north from the American frontier to Athabasca.

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

plural of “level” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

small in range or scope

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Rancher Winston stood shivering in a little Canadian settlement in the great lonely land which runs north from the American frontier to Athabasca.

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading Rancher Winston stood shivering in a little Canadian settlement in the great lonely land which runs north from the American frontier to Athabasca.

past form of “moan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

(of liquids) clouded as with sediment

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

not any; not one

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Rancher Winston stood shivering in a little Canadian settlement in the great lonely land which runs north from the American frontier to Athabasca.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

above and across; more than

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

(of farmland) broken and turned over with a plow

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

a treeless grassy plain

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

the activity of protecting someone or something

From this reading It chilled Winston, and his furs, somewhat tattered, gave him little protection.

line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

a person who owns or operates a ranch

From this reading Rancher Winston stood shivering in a little Canadian settlement in the great lonely land which runs north from the American frontier to Athabasca.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

plural of “run” — a score in baseball made by a runner touching all four bases safely

From this reading Rancher Winston stood shivering in a little Canadian settlement in the great lonely land which runs north from the American frontier to Athabasca.

plural of “rut” — a groove or furrow (especially one in soft earth caused by wheels)

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government

From this reading Rancher Winston stood shivering in a little Canadian settlement in the great lonely land which runs north from the American frontier to Athabasca.

a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever

From this reading Rancher Winston stood shivering in a little Canadian settlement in the great lonely land which runs north from the American frontier to Athabasca.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

to a small degree or extent

From this reading It chilled Winston, and his furs, somewhat tattered, gave him little protection.

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

the light of the stars

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

a kind of pain; something as sudden and painful as being stung

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Rancher Winston stood shivering in a little Canadian settlement in the great lonely land which runs north from the American frontier to Athabasca.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

worn to shreds; or wearing torn or ragged clothing

From this reading It chilled Winston, and his furs, somewhat tattered, gave him little protection.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

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

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

in or at that place or location

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

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

From this reading Rancher Winston stood shivering in a little Canadian settlement in the great lonely land which runs north from the American frontier to Athabasca.

in the direction of

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

not having a paved surface

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

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

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.

any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

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

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

in or at the place that

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Rancher Winston stood shivering in a little Canadian settlement in the great lonely land which runs north from the American frontier to Athabasca.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading There was no blink of starlight in the murky sky, and out of the great waste of grass came a stinging wind that moaned about the frame houses clustering beside the trail that led south over the limited levels to the railroad and civilization.

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

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

From this reading Rancher Winston stood shivering in a little Canadian settlement in the great lonely land which runs north from the American frontier to Athabasca.

made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood

From this reading He strode up and down, glancing expectantly into the darkness, and then across the unpaved street, where the ruts were plowed a foot deep in the prairie sod, towards the warm red glow from the windows of the wooden hotel.

but in spite of that

From this reading It was a bitter night, for the frost had bound the prairie in its iron grip, although as yet there was no snow.