used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
quickly and without warning
From this reading The trail bent abruptly to the right; a gulf fully two thousand feet deep was at his feet!
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
anew
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
from appearances alone
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading The trail bent abruptly to the right; a gulf fully two thousand feet deep was at his feet!
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
BradleynounUS /ˈbrædli/
United States politician who was elected the first black mayor of Los Angeles (1917-1998)
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
CanyonnounUS /ˈkænjən/
a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall
From this reading It was the Great Canyon.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading The trail bent abruptly to the right; a gulf fully two thousand feet deep was at his feet!
deepeningnounUS /ˈdiːpənɪŋ/
a process of becoming deeper and more profound
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
the organ of sight
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
having unexpected good fortune
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
set up or found
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading The trail bent abruptly to the right; a gulf fully two thousand feet deep was at his feet!
-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It was the Great Canyon.
gulfnounUS /ɡʌlf/
an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay
From this reading The trail bent abruptly to the right; a gulf fully two thousand feet deep was at his feet!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
indicatedverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪtəd/
past form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
become covered with mist
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
mountaineeringnounUS /ˈmaʊntɪnɪrɪŋ/
the activity of climbing a mountain
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
a brief written record
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
a course of conduct
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
with speed
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
with low volume
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
replacedverbUS /ˌriːˈpleɪst/
past form of “replace” — substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
precisely, exactly
From this reading The trail bent abruptly to the right; a gulf fully two thousand feet deep was at his feet!
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
shorteradjectiveUS /ˈʃɔːrtər/
comparative of “short” — primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
silver-fir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
slackenverbUS /ˈslækən/
become slow or slower
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading The trail bent abruptly to the right; a gulf fully two thousand feet deep was at his feet!
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
in the direction of
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
travelledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
familiar with many parts of the world
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
trunksnounUS /trʌŋks/
(used in the plural) trousers that end at or above the knee
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The trail bent abruptly to the right; a gulf fully two thousand feet deep was at his feet!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without glancing at the note again, the stranger quietly replaced it in his pocket, and struck out across the fallen trunks towards the silver-fir.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading He quickly found the trail indicated by Bradley, although it was faint and apparently worn by a single pair of feet as a shorter and private cut from some more travelled path.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was well for the stranger that he had a keen eye or he would have lost it; it was equally fortunate that he had a mountaineering instinct, for a sudden profound deepening of the blue mist seen dimly through the leaves before him caused him to slacken his steps.
