used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A HOPELESS TASK A fearful task confronted the little party.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If they succeeded in their prodigious task, it must be done by sheer strength and the power of continued desperation.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading But, with compressed lips and the resolution to do or die, they bent to the work without faltering.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
terminate
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, with compressed lips and the resolution to do or die, they bent to the work without faltering.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading If they succeeded in their prodigious task, it must be done by sheer strength and the power of continued desperation.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
Carrol
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
compressedadjectiveUS /kəmˈprest/
pressed tightly together
From this reading But, with compressed lips and the resolution to do or die, they bent to the work without faltering.
confrontedverbUS /kənˈfrʌntəd/
past form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading A HOPELESS TASK A fearful task confronted the little party.
without stop or interruption
From this reading If they succeeded in their prodigious task, it must be done by sheer strength and the power of continued desperation.
Cosgrove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
desperationnounUS /ˌdespərˈeɪʃən/
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading If they succeeded in their prodigious task, it must be done by sheer strength and the power of continued desperation.
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading But, with compressed lips and the resolution to do or die, they bent to the work without faltering.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But, with compressed lips and the resolution to do or die, they bent to the work without faltering.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading If they succeeded in their prodigious task, it must be done by sheer strength and the power of continued desperation.
Esquimaunoun
a member of a people inhabiting the Arctic (northern Canada or Greenland or Alaska or eastern Siberia); the Algonquians called them Eskimo (“eaters of raw flesh”) but they call themselves the Inuit (“the people”)
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
falteringnounUS /ˈfɔːltərɪŋ/
the act of pausing uncertainly
From this reading But, with compressed lips and the resolution to do or die, they bent to the work without faltering.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
experiencing or showing fear
From this reading A HOPELESS TASK A fearful task confronted the little party.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
havennounUS /ˈheɪvən/
a shelter serving as a place of safety or sanctuary
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
HOPELESSadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading A HOPELESS TASK A fearful task confronted the little party.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If they succeeded in their prodigious task, it must be done by sheer strength and the power of continued desperation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If they succeeded in their prodigious task, it must be done by sheer strength and the power of continued desperation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If they succeeded in their prodigious task, it must be done by sheer strength and the power of continued desperation.
a small worthless amount
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading But, with compressed lips and the resolution to do or die, they bent to the work without faltering.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A HOPELESS TASK A fearful task confronted the little party.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading If they succeeded in their prodigious task, it must be done by sheer strength and the power of continued desperation.
as might be expected
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
and nothing more
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading A HOPELESS TASK A fearful task confronted the little party.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading If they succeeded in their prodigious task, it must be done by sheer strength and the power of continued desperation.
prodigiousadjectiveUS /prəˈdɪdʒəs/
so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
From this reading If they succeeded in their prodigious task, it must be done by sheer strength and the power of continued desperation.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
refugenounUS /ˈrefjuːdʒ/
a safe place
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote
From this reading But, with compressed lips and the resolution to do or die, they bent to the work without faltering.
take something away by force or without the consent of the owner
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading If they succeeded in their prodigious task, it must be done by sheer strength and the power of continued desperation.
slednounUS /sled/
a vehicle mounted on runners and pulled by horses or dogs; for transportation over snow
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
snow-shoe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading If they succeeded in their prodigious task, it must be done by sheer strength and the power of continued desperation.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading If they succeeded in their prodigious task, it must be done by sheer strength and the power of continued desperation.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading A HOPELESS TASK A fearful task confronted the little party.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A HOPELESS TASK A fearful task confronted the little party.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But, with compressed lips and the resolution to do or die, they bent to the work without faltering.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
Warburton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The Esquimau naturally took the lead to break the way so far as he could; Jack Cosgrove came next, then Rob Carrol, while Fred Warburton brought up the rear.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But, with compressed lips and the resolution to do or die, they bent to the work without faltering.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Thirty miles of snow, several feet deep, lay between them and their only haven of refuge, and they were without sled or snow-shoe.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading But, with compressed lips and the resolution to do or die, they bent to the work without faltering.
