used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading CAPTURED BY SPANIARDS The party, after breaking their fast, packed up their rations and started on again.
anew
From this reading CAPTURED BY SPANIARDS The party, after breaking their fast, packed up their rations and started on again.
(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 Seemingly satisfied, he beckoned to the others to come on, and they all cautiously crept out into the open country.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CAPTURED BY SPANIARDS The party, after breaking their fast, packed up their rations and started on again.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
beckonedverbUS /ˈbekənd/
past form of “beckon” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading Seemingly satisfied, he beckoned to the others to come on, and they all cautiously crept out into the open country.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
the act of breaking something
From this reading CAPTURED BY SPANIARDS The party, after breaking their fast, packed up their rations and started on again.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading CAPTURED BY SPANIARDS The party, after breaking their fast, packed up their rations and started on again.
CAPTUREDverbUS /ˈkæptʃərd/
past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading CAPTURED BY SPANIARDS The party, after breaking their fast, packed up their rations and started on again.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading Seemingly satisfied, he beckoned to the others to come on, and they all cautiously crept out into the open country.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Seemingly satisfied, he beckoned to the others to come on, and they all cautiously crept out into the open country.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Seemingly satisfied, he beckoned to the others to come on, and they all cautiously crept out into the open country.
droppingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɑːpɪŋ/
coming down freely under the influence of gravity
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
opinion or judgment
From this reading "Must keep eyes peeled now for Spaniards," said Washington.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading CAPTURED BY SPANIARDS The party, after breaking their fast, packed up their rations and started on again.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Must keep eyes peeled now for Spaniards," said Washington.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
set up or found
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Seemingly satisfied, he beckoned to the others to come on, and they all cautiously crept out into the open country.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading "Must keep eyes peeled now for Spaniards," said Washington.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
motionedverbUS /ˈmoʊʃənd/
past form of “motion” — show, express or direct through movement
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "Must keep eyes peeled now for Spaniards," said Washington.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Must keep eyes peeled now for Spaniards," said Washington.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading CAPTURED BY SPANIARDS The party, after breaking their fast, packed up their rations and started on again.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seemingly satisfied, he beckoned to the others to come on, and they all cautiously crept out into the open country.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
packedadjectiveUS /pækt/
extremely crowed or filled to capacity
From this reading CAPTURED BY SPANIARDS The party, after breaking their fast, packed up their rations and started on again.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading CAPTURED BY SPANIARDS The party, after breaking their fast, packed up their rations and started on again.
peeledadjectiveUS /piːld/
(used informally) completely unclothed
From this reading "Must keep eyes peeled now for Spaniards," said Washington.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
rationsnounUS /ˈræʃənz/
plural of “ration” — the food allowance for one day (especially for service personnel)
From this reading CAPTURED BY SPANIARDS The party, after breaking their fast, packed up their rations and started on again.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Must keep eyes peeled now for Spaniards," said Washington.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading Seemingly satisfied, he beckoned to the others to come on, and they all cautiously crept out into the open country.
SeeminglyadverbUS /ˈsiːmɪŋli/
from appearances alone
From this reading Seemingly satisfied, he beckoned to the others to come on, and they all cautiously crept out into the open country.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
SPANIARDSnounUS /ˈspænjərdz/
plural of “spaniard” — a native or inhabitant of Spain
From this reading CAPTURED BY SPANIARDS The party, after breaking their fast, packed up their rations and started on again.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading CAPTURED BY SPANIARDS The party, after breaking their fast, packed up their rations and started on again.
stomachnounUS /ˈstʌmək/
an enlarged and muscular saclike organ of the alimentary canal; the principal organ of digestion
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
surveynounUS /sərˈveɪ/
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
tangledadjectiveUS /ˈtæŋɡəld/
in a confused mass
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CAPTURED BY SPANIARDS The party, after breaking their fast, packed up their rations and started on again.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading CAPTURED BY SPANIARDS The party, after breaking their fast, packed up their rations and started on again.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading CAPTURED BY SPANIARDS The party, after breaking their fast, packed up their rations and started on again.
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
in or at the place that
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The tangled forest of low growth through which they struggled began to thin out, and they found themselves in an almost open country at the foot of a range of mountains.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
wriggled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before they left the shelter of the bushes, Washington motioned the boys back, and dropping on his stomach, wriggled to the edge of the woods, where he made a long survey of the country.
