adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Now it was deep summer, blue and gold, and the air all balm and caressing.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 Now it was deep summer, blue and gold, and the air all balm and caressing.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
balmnounUS /bɑːm/
any of various aromatic resinous substances used for healing and soothing
From this reading Now it was deep summer, blue and gold, and the air all balm and caressing.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The evening before I had seen the three ships where they rode in river mouth.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
blueadjectiveUS /bluː/
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Now it was deep summer, blue and gold, and the air all balm and caressing.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
caravels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were caravels, and only the _Santa Maria_, the largest, was fully decked.
caressingnounUS /kərˈesɪŋ/
affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)
From this reading Now it was deep summer, blue and gold, and the air all balm and caressing.
craftnounUS /kræft/
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
dawnnounUS /dɔːn/
the first light of day
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
deckedverbUS /dekt/
past form of “deck” — be beautiful to look at
From this reading They were caravels, and only the _Santa Maria_, the largest, was fully decked.
deepadjectiveUS /diːp/
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Now it was deep summer, blue and gold, and the air all balm and caressing.
desertverbUS /ˈdezərt/
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
dunesnounUS /duːnz/
plural of “dune” — a ridge of sand created by the wind; found in deserts or near lakes and oceans
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The evening before I had seen the three ships where they rode in river mouth.
findverbUS /faɪnd/
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
fullyadverbUS /ˈfʊli/
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading They were caravels, and only the _Santa Maria_, the largest, was fully decked.
goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/
coins made of gold
From this reading Now it was deep summer, blue and gold, and the air all balm and caressing.
graynessnoun
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The evening before I had seen the three ships where they rode in river mouth.
IndianounUS /ˈɪndiə/
a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
largestadjectiveUS /ˈlɑːrdʒəst/
superlative of “large” — above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They were caravels, and only the _Santa Maria_, the largest, was fully decked.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
leaguesnounUS /liːɡz/
plural of “league” — an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
MarianounUS /mərˈiːə/
a dark region of considerable extent on the surface of the moon
From this reading They were caravels, and only the _Santa Maria_, the largest, was fully decked.
meansnounUS /miːnz/
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
mouthnounUS /maʊθ/
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading The evening before I had seen the three ships where they rode in river mouth.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
NowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now it was deep summer, blue and gold, and the air all balm and caressing.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading They were caravels, and only the _Santa Maria_, the largest, was fully decked.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
plainadjectiveUS /pleɪn/
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
RISINGadjectiveUS /ˈraɪzɪŋ/
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The evening before I had seen the three ships where they rode in river mouth.
roadnounUS /roʊd/
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
rodeverbUS /roʊd/
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading The evening before I had seen the three ships where they rode in river mouth.
SantanounUS /ˈsæntə/
the legendary patron saint of children; an imaginary being who is thought to bring presents to children at Christmas
From this reading They were caravels, and only the _Santa Maria_, the largest, was fully decked.
seanounUS /siː/
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
seenverbUS /siːn/
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The evening before I had seen the three ships where they rode in river mouth.
shipsnounUS /ʃɪps/
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading The evening before I had seen the three ships where they rode in river mouth.
SmalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
stretchedadjectiveUS /stretʃt/
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
summernounUS /ˈsʌmər/
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Now it was deep summer, blue and gold, and the air all balm and caressing.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The evening before I had seen the three ships where they rode in river mouth.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
thousandnounUS /ˈθaʊzənd/
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
threenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The evening before I had seen the three ships where they rode in river mouth.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
toiledverbUS /tɔɪld/
past form of “toil” — work hard
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
traveledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
traveled over or through; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
walkedverbUS /wɔːkt/
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now it was deep summer, blue and gold, and the air all balm and caressing.
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 Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were caravels, and only the _Santa Maria_, the largest, was fully decked.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading The evening before I had seen the three ships where they rode in river mouth.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading RISING at dawn, I walked to the sea and along it until I came at last to those dunes beneath which I had stretched myself that day of grayness.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Small craft with which to find India, over a road of a thousand leagues--or no road, for road means that men have toiled there and traveled there--no road, but a wilderness plain, a water desert!
