used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading In the cool of that same afternoon they stood on the brow of Dibble Mountain.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
ascentnounUS /əˈsent/
an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
From this reading Sometimes the ascent was so steep that they found the easiest way was to “shinny” up the slender trees along the mountain side, and step off on to the jutting cliffs.
belatedadjectiveUS /bɪˈleɪtɪd/
after the expected or usual time; delayed
From this reading ON DIBBLE MOUNTAIN The belated quest of the needle in the haystack now went forward in real earnest.
berriesnounUS /ˈberiz/
plural of “berry” — any of numerous small and pulpy edible fruits; used as desserts or in making jams and jellies and preserves
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading In the cool of that same afternoon they stood on the brow of Dibble Mountain.
either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
cliffsnounUS /klɪfs/
plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock
From this reading Sometimes the ascent was so steep that they found the easiest way was to “shinny” up the slender trees along the mountain side, and step off on to the jutting cliffs.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading In the cool of that same afternoon they stood on the brow of Dibble Mountain.
DIBBLEverbUS /ˈdɪbəl/
plant with a wooden hand tool
From this reading ON DIBBLE MOUNTAIN The belated quest of the needle in the haystack now went forward in real earnest.
dyedadjectiveUS /daɪd/
(used of color) artificially produced; not natural
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading ON DIBBLE MOUNTAIN The belated quest of the needle in the haystack now went forward in real earnest.
easiestadjectiveUS /ˈiːziəst/
superlative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Sometimes the ascent was so steep that they found the easiest way was to “shinny” up the slender trees along the mountain side, and step off on to the jutting cliffs.
inflected form of “eat” — take in solid food
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading ON DIBBLE MOUNTAIN The belated quest of the needle in the haystack now went forward in real earnest.
set up or found
From this reading Sometimes the ascent was so steep that they found the easiest way was to “shinny” up the slender trees along the mountain side, and step off on to the jutting cliffs.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
goodlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡʊdli/
large in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
Gordon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
haystacknounUS /ˈheɪstæk/
a stack of hay
From this reading ON DIBBLE MOUNTAIN The belated quest of the needle in the haystack now went forward in real earnest.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ON DIBBLE MOUNTAIN The belated quest of the needle in the haystack now went forward in real earnest.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was slow work.
juttingadjectiveUS /ˈdʒʌtɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading Sometimes the ascent was so steep that they found the easiest way was to “shinny” up the slender trees along the mountain side, and step off on to the jutting cliffs.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading ON DIBBLE MOUNTAIN The belated quest of the needle in the haystack now went forward in real earnest.
needlenounUS /ˈniːdəl/
the leaf of a conifer
From this reading ON DIBBLE MOUNTAIN The belated quest of the needle in the haystack now went forward in real earnest.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading ON DIBBLE MOUNTAIN The belated quest of the needle in the haystack now went forward in real earnest.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ON DIBBLE MOUNTAIN The belated quest of the needle in the haystack now went forward in real earnest.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Sometimes the ascent was so steep that they found the easiest way was to “shinny” up the slender trees along the mountain side, and step off on to the jutting cliffs.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON DIBBLE MOUNTAIN The belated quest of the needle in the haystack now went forward in real earnest.
ornamentedverbUS /ˈɔːrnəmentɪd/
past form of “ornament” — make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
questnounUS /kwest/
a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria
From this reading ON DIBBLE MOUNTAIN The belated quest of the needle in the haystack now went forward in real earnest.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading ON DIBBLE MOUNTAIN The belated quest of the needle in the haystack now went forward in real earnest.
Identical; not different.
From this reading In the cool of that same afternoon they stood on the brow of Dibble Mountain.
shinnynoun
a simple version of hockey played by children on the streets (or on ice or on a field) using a ball or can as the puck
From this reading Sometimes the ascent was so steep that they found the easiest way was to “shinny” up the slender trees along the mountain side, and step off on to the jutting cliffs.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Sometimes the ascent was so steep that they found the easiest way was to “shinny” up the slender trees along the mountain side, and step off on to the jutting cliffs.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading Sometimes the ascent was so steep that they found the easiest way was to “shinny” up the slender trees along the mountain side, and step off on to the jutting cliffs.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading It was slow work.
smootch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Sometimes the ascent was so steep that they found the easiest way was to “shinny” up the slender trees along the mountain side, and step off on to the jutting cliffs.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes the ascent was so steep that they found the easiest way was to “shinny” up the slender trees along the mountain side, and step off on to the jutting cliffs.
having a sharp inclination
From this reading Sometimes the ascent was so steep that they found the easiest way was to “shinny” up the slender trees along the mountain side, and step off on to the jutting cliffs.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Sometimes the ascent was so steep that they found the easiest way was to “shinny” up the slender trees along the mountain side, and step off on to the jutting cliffs.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading In the cool of that same afternoon they stood on the brow of Dibble Mountain.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the cool of that same afternoon they stood on the brow of Dibble Mountain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON DIBBLE MOUNTAIN The belated quest of the needle in the haystack now went forward in real earnest.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the cool of that same afternoon they stood on the brow of Dibble Mountain.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sometimes the ascent was so steep that they found the easiest way was to “shinny” up the slender trees along the mountain side, and step off on to the jutting cliffs.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Sometimes the ascent was so steep that they found the easiest way was to “shinny” up the slender trees along the mountain side, and step off on to the jutting cliffs.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Sometimes the ascent was so steep that they found the easiest way was to “shinny” up the slender trees along the mountain side, and step off on to the jutting cliffs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sometimes the ascent was so steep that they found the easiest way was to “shinny” up the slender trees along the mountain side, and step off on to the jutting cliffs.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading ON DIBBLE MOUNTAIN The belated quest of the needle in the haystack now went forward in real earnest.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Gordon’s hands were dyed purple from the berries he had picked and eaten along the way, and a goodly smootch ornamented his cheek.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading It was slow work.
