used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The air began to cool in the deep shadows, and there was a damp chill in it like the breath from a cavern.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Two miles above the Ratama the walls of the gorge began to close in steep cliffs.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The air began to cool in the deep shadows, and there was a damp chill in it like the breath from a cavern.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
barraca
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Two miles above the Ratama the walls of the gorge began to close in steep cliffs.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading The air began to cool in the deep shadows, and there was a damp chill in it like the breath from a cavern.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
cavernnounUS /ˈkæv.ərn/
A large, vast underground cave, often filled with forgotten ancient treasures.
From this reading The air began to cool in the deep shadows, and there was a damp chill in it like the breath from a cavern.
chatteringnounUS /ˈtʃætərɪŋ/
the rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading The air began to cool in the deep shadows, and there was a damp chill in it like the breath from a cavern.
clattered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
cliffsnounUS /klɪfs/
plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock
From this reading Two miles above the Ratama the walls of the gorge began to close in steep cliffs.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Two miles above the Ratama the walls of the gorge began to close in steep cliffs.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading The air began to cool in the deep shadows, and there was a damp chill in it like the breath from a cavern.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading The air began to cool in the deep shadows, and there was a damp chill in it like the breath from a cavern.
daybreaknounUS /ˈdeɪbreɪk/
the first light of day
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading The air began to cool in the deep shadows, and there was a damp chill in it like the breath from a cavern.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
edgesnounUS /ˈedʒəz/
plural of “edge” — the boundary of a surface
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
emptyingnounUS /ˈemptiɪŋ/
the act of removing the contents of something
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
Englishman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
moving swiftly
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
glassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡlæsi/
resembling glass in smoothness and shininess and slickness
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
gorgeverbUS /ɡɔːrdʒ/
overeat or eat immodestly; make a pig of oneself
From this reading Two miles above the Ratama the walls of the gorge began to close in steep cliffs.
highest in quality
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The air began to cool in the deep shadows, and there was a damp chill in it like the breath from a cavern.
kingfishernounUS /ˈkɪŋfɪʃər/
nonpasserine large-headed bird with a short tail and long sharp bill; usually crested and bright-colored; feed mostly on fish
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
Leccos
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
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 At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The air began to cool in the deep shadows, and there was a damp chill in it like the breath from a cavern.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
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 Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Two miles above the Ratama the walls of the gorge began to close in steep cliffs.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
nichesnounUS /ˈnɪtʃɪz/
plural of “niche” — a position particularly well suited to the person who occupies it
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Two miles above the Ratama the walls of the gorge began to close in steep cliffs.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
and nothing more
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
be shown or be found to be
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
rapidsnounUS /ˈræpədz/
plural of “rapid” — a part of a river where the current is very fast
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
Ratama
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
rattleverbUS /ˈrætəl/
make short successive sounds
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
riflesnounUS /ˈraɪfəlz/
plural of “rifle” — a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
saluteverbUS /səˈluːt/
propose a toast to
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The air began to cool in the deep shadows, and there was a damp chill in it like the breath from a cavern.
shrubsnounUS /ʃrʌbz/
plural of “shrub” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
having a sharp inclination
From this reading Two miles above the Ratama the walls of the gorge began to close in steep cliffs.
moving very fast
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
tautadjectiveUS /tɔːt/
pulled or drawn tight
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two miles above the Ratama the walls of the gorge began to close in steep cliffs.
vinesnounUS /vaɪnz/
plural of “vine” — a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
plural of “wall” — 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 Two miles above the Ratama the walls of the gorge began to close in steep cliffs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The air began to cool in the deep shadows, and there was a damp chill in it like the breath from a cavern.
watchman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Leccos were not chattering now, for this place may on any trip prove to be serious, and the silence of the smooth drifting was only broken by an occasional kingfisher, which clattered by like a flying watchman’s rattle.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
whippedverbUS /wɪpt/
inflected form of “whip” — beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading Here and there shrubs clung on little niches, while from the high edges long vines hung down and were whipped taut in the swift, glassy current below.
WinchesternounUS /ˈwɪntʃestər/
a city in southern England; administrative center of Hampshire
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
Ysipuri
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At daybreak we left the Ysipuri barraca and emptying our rifles in salute to the Englishman’s Winchester, we started on for the next rapids, the greatest rapids on the river—the Ratama.
