used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was mid-afternoon, and why I should have been sleeping at such a time of day I could not understand.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was mid-afternoon, and why I should have been sleeping at such a time of day I could not understand.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was mid-afternoon, and why I should have been sleeping at such a time of day I could not understand.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Surely I never had seen the valley and the huts before.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was mid-afternoon, and why I should have been sleeping at such a time of day I could not understand.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
extendingverbUS /ɪkˈstendɪŋ/
-ing form of “extend” — extend in scope or range or area
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment or two I was lost in mind.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Surely I never had seen the valley and the huts before.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was mid-afternoon, and why I should have been sleeping at such a time of day I could not understand.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
temporary military shelter
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
hutsnounUS /hʌts/
plural of “hut” — temporary military shelter
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was mid-afternoon, and why I should have been sleeping at such a time of day I could not understand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was mid-afternoon, and why I should have been sleeping at such a time of day I could not understand.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading For a moment or two I was lost in mind.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
mid-afternoon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was mid-afternoon, and why I should have been sleeping at such a time of day I could not understand.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading For a moment or two I was lost in mind.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment or two I was lost in mind.
in motion
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Surely I never had seen the valley and the huts before.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was mid-afternoon, and why I should have been sleeping at such a time of day I could not understand.
held or filled or in use
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For a moment or two I was lost in mind.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
perpendicularnounUS /ˌpɜːrpənˈdɪkjələr/
a straight line at right angles to another line
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
polesnounUS /poʊlz/
plural of “pole” — a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
precipicenounUS /ˈpresəpəs/
a very steep cliff
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
rangedverbUS /reɪndʒd/
past form of “range” — change or be different within limits
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
rockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Surely I never had seen the valley and the huts before.
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was mid-afternoon, and why I should have been sleeping at such a time of day I could not understand.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
the state of being asleep
From this reading It was mid-afternoon, and why I should have been sleeping at such a time of day I could not understand.
SOWERSnounUS /ˈsoʊərz/
plural of “sower” — someone who sows
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was mid-afternoon, and why I should have been sleeping at such a time of day I could not understand.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Surely I never had seen the valley and the huts before.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was mid-afternoon, and why I should have been sleeping at such a time of day I could not understand.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading For a moment or two I was lost in mind.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading It was mid-afternoon, and why I should have been sleeping at such a time of day I could not understand.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
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 Through the entrance to the hut I could look across the valley, through which ran a shallow little river, and could see huts like the one I occupied ranged against the extending wall of the precipice, and people moving about.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE SOWERS The hut, which was made of poles leaning against the perpendicular side of the rocky height, was cool and pleasant to lie in during the heat of the day.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading It was mid-afternoon, and why I should have been sleeping at such a time of day I could not understand.
