used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “We are out of Mother Earth’s leading-strings now,” he said.
areanounUS /ˈeriə/
a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
From this reading The whole area of the crater seemed to me then to be one similar wilderness up to the very foot of the surrounding cliff.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The sphere lay behind us on its dwindling snowdrift thirty feet away.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The whole area of the crater seemed to me then to be one similar wilderness up to the very foot of the surrounding cliff.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The sphere lay behind us on its dwindling snowdrift thirty feet away.
next to; at the side of
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
bristlingverbUS /ˈbrɪsəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “bristle” — be in a state of movement or action
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
bulgingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌldʒɪŋ/
curving or bulging outward
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
cactusnounUS /ˈkæktəs/
any succulent plant of the family Cactaceae native chiefly to arid regions of the New World and usually having spines
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
a steep high face of rock
From this reading The whole area of the crater seemed to me then to be one similar wilderness up to the very foot of the surrounding cliff.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
craternounUS /ˈkreɪtər/
a bowl-shaped geological formation at the top of a volcano
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
crawlverbUS /krɔːl/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
disordernounUS /dɪˈsɔːrdər/
a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
diversifiedadjectiveUS /daɪˈvɜːrsəfaɪd/
having variety of character or form or components; or having increased variety
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
dwindlingadjectiveUS /ˈdwɪndəlɪŋ/
gradually decreasing until little remains
From this reading The sphere lay behind us on its dwindling snowdrift thirty feet away.
Earth'snounUS /ɜːrθs/
possessive form of “earth” — the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading “We are out of Mother Earth’s leading-strings now,” he said.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
the organ of sight
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The sphere lay behind us on its dwindling snowdrift thirty feet away.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The whole area of the crater seemed to me then to be one similar wilderness up to the very foot of the surrounding cliff.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
guardedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɑːrdəd/
prudent
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “We are out of Mother Earth’s leading-strings now,” he said.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The sphere lay behind us on its dwindling snowdrift thirty feet away.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The sphere lay behind us on its dwindling snowdrift thirty feet away.
leading-strings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We are out of Mother Earth’s leading-strings now,” he said.
lichensnounUS /ˈlaɪkənz/
plural of “lichen” — any of several eruptive skin diseases characterized by hard thick lesions grouped together and resembling lichens growing on rocks
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The whole area of the crater seemed to me then to be one similar wilderness up to the very foot of the surrounding cliff.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading “We are out of Mother Earth’s leading-strings now,” he said.
in motion
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “We are out of Mother Earth’s leading-strings now,” he said.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “We are out of Mother Earth’s leading-strings now,” he said.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The sphere lay behind us on its dwindling snowdrift thirty feet away.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The whole area of the crater seemed to me then to be one similar wilderness up to the very foot of the surrounding cliff.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “We are out of Mother Earth’s leading-strings now,” he said.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
a person who requires medical care
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
rheumaticnounUS /ruːˈmætɪk/
a person suffering with rheumatism
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “We are out of Mother Earth’s leading-strings now,” he said.
Identical; not different.
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
scarletnounUS /ˈskɑːrlət/
a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
scrubverbUS /skrʌb/
clean with hard rubbing
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
marked by correspondence or resemblance
From this reading The whole area of the crater seemed to me then to be one similar wilderness up to the very foot of the surrounding cliff.
snowdriftnoun
a mass of snow heaped up by the wind
From this reading The sphere lay behind us on its dwindling snowdrift thirty feet away.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
spherenounUS /sfɪr/
a particular environment or walk of life
From this reading The sphere lay behind us on its dwindling snowdrift thirty feet away.
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
confined on all sides
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading The whole area of the crater seemed to me then to be one similar wilderness up to the very foot of the surrounding cliff.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The whole area of the crater seemed to me then to be one similar wilderness up to the very foot of the surrounding cliff.
in or at that place or location
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading The sphere lay behind us on its dwindling snowdrift thirty feet away.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
the upper part of anything
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The sphere lay behind us on its dwindling snowdrift thirty feet away.
precisely as stated
From this reading The whole area of the crater seemed to me then to be one similar wilderness up to the very foot of the surrounding cliff.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As far as the eye could see over the enormous disorder of rocks that formed the crater floor, the same bristling scrub that surrounded us was starting into life, diversified here and there by bulging masses of a cactus form, and scarlet and purple lichens that grew so fast they seemed to crawl over the rocks.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “We are out of Mother Earth’s leading-strings now,” he said.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The whole area of the crater seemed to me then to be one similar wilderness up to the very foot of the surrounding cliff.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading The whole area of the crater seemed to me then to be one similar wilderness up to the very foot of the surrounding cliff.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a guarded effort I raised myself to the top, and moving as cautiously as a rheumatic patient, stood up beside him under the blaze of the sun.
