used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
Archie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
bathing-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
boardingnounUS /ˈbɔːrdɪŋ/
the act of passengers and crew getting aboard a ship or aircraft
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
broadeningnounUS /ˈbrɔːdənɪŋ/
the act of making something wider
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
bulrushes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
campionnounUS /ˈkæmpiən/
any plant of the genus Silene
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
crispadjectiveUS /krɪsp/
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
curlsnounUS /kɜːrlz/
plural of “curl” — a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles (as formed by leaves or flower petals)
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
debouched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
divingnounUS /ˈdaɪvɪŋ/
an athletic competition that involves diving into water
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
dryingverbUS /ˈdraɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “dry” — remove the moisture from and make dry
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
ecstasynounUS /ˈekstəsi/
a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
enclosedadjectiveUS /enˈkloʊzd/
closed in or surrounded or included within
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
estuarynounUS /ˈestʃuːeri/
the wide part of a river where it nears the sea; fresh and salt water mix
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
fringedadjective
surrounded as with a border or fringe; sometimes used in combination
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
half-hournounUS /ˈhæfaʊər/
a half of an hour
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
immediately past
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
loosestrifenounUS /ˈluːsstraɪf/
any of numerous herbs and subshrubs of the genus Lythrum
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
low-lyingadjective
having a small elevation above the ground or horizon or sea level
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
marginnounUS /ˈmɑːrdʒən/
the boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
meadownounUS /ˈmedoʊ/
a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
meadow-sweet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
a light shade of red
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
ragged-robin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
scentnounUS /sɛnt/
A distinctive smell or aroma.
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
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 At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
starredadjectiveUS /stɑːrd/
marked with an asterisk
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
stripverbUS /strɪp/
take away possessions from someone
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
supportedadjectiveUS /səˈpɔːrtɪd/
sustained or maintained by aid (as distinct from physical support)
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
swimmingnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/
the act of swimming
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
turfnounUS /tɜːrf/
surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
undefinableadjective
not capable of being precisely or readily described; not easily put into words
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
weedsnounUS /wiːdz/
a black garment (dress) worn by a widow as a sign of mourning
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
in or at the place that
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
