used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading Mark's friends were wild with alarm; and his enemies--who can describe their feelings?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They stood about in groups, and whispered, and listened, and strained their eyes to pierce the mist.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Mark's friends were wild with alarm; and his enemies--who can describe their feelings?
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
give a description of
From this reading Mark's friends were wild with alarm; and his enemies--who can describe their feelings?
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading The surprise of the helpless watchers on the shore precludes description.
DIDauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading WHAT MARK DID.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
enactedverbUS /eˈnæktəd/
past form of “enact” — order by virtue of superior authority; decree
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading Mark's friends were wild with alarm; and his enemies--who can describe their feelings?
divisible by two
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
opinion or judgment
From this reading They stood about in groups, and whispered, and listened, and strained their eyes to pierce the mist.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading Mark's friends were wild with alarm; and his enemies--who can describe their feelings?
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Mark's friends were wild with alarm; and his enemies--who can describe their feelings?
groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/
plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading They stood about in groups, and whispered, and listened, and strained their eyes to pierce the mist.
lacking in or deprived of strength or power
From this reading The surprise of the helpless watchers on the shore precludes description.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mark's friends were wild with alarm; and his enemies--who can describe their feelings?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They stood about in groups, and whispered, and listened, and strained their eyes to pierce the mist.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading They stood about in groups, and whispered, and listened, and strained their eyes to pierce the mist.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading WHAT MARK DID.
Mark'snounUS /mɑːrks/
possessive form of “mark” — a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)
From this reading Mark's friends were wild with alarm; and his enemies--who can describe their feelings?
become covered with mist
From this reading They stood about in groups, and whispered, and listened, and strained their eyes to pierce the mist.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The surprise of the helpless watchers on the shore precludes description.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The surprise of the helpless watchers on the shore precludes description.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
pierceverbUS /pɪrs/
cut or make a way through
From this reading They stood about in groups, and whispered, and listened, and strained their eyes to pierce the mist.
precludesverbUS /prɪˈkluːdz/
third-person singular of “preclude” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading The surprise of the helpless watchers on the shore precludes description.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
seethingadjectiveUS /ˈsiːðɪŋ/
in constant agitation
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading The surprise of the helpless watchers on the shore precludes description.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading They stood about in groups, and whispered, and listened, and strained their eyes to pierce the mist.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading They stood about in groups, and whispered, and listened, and strained their eyes to pierce the mist.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The surprise of the helpless watchers on the shore precludes description.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The surprise of the helpless watchers on the shore precludes description.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They stood about in groups, and whispered, and listened, and strained their eyes to pierce the mist.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They stood about in groups, and whispered, and listened, and strained their eyes to pierce the mist.
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They knew that out upon that seething river a tragedy was being enacted; but the driving rain made a wall about them--they could not aid, they could not even see.
watchersnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃərz/
plural of “watcher” — a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
From this reading The surprise of the helpless watchers on the shore precludes description.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mark's friends were wild with alarm; and his enemies--who can describe their feelings?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WHAT MARK DID.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading They stood about in groups, and whispered, and listened, and strained their eyes to pierce the mist.
which person or people
From this reading Mark's friends were wild with alarm; and his enemies--who can describe their feelings?
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Mark's friends were wild with alarm; and his enemies--who can describe their feelings?
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mark's friends were wild with alarm; and his enemies--who can describe their feelings?
