used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading In summer the foliage all but hides it from the shore, and in winter the grim, gray rocks give it ample security from the prying eyes of the world.
ampleadjectiveUS /ˈæmpəl/
more than enough in size or scope or capacity
From this reading In summer the foliage all but hides it from the shore, and in winter the grim, gray rocks give it ample security from the prying eyes of the world.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
BasinnounUS /ˈbeɪsən/
a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids
From this reading Brown’s Basin was off the beaten track, even nautically speaking.
formed or made thin by hammering
From this reading Brown’s Basin was off the beaten track, even nautically speaking.
blackestadjectiveUS /ˈblækəst/
superlative of “black” — being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
Brown'snounUS /braʊnz/
possessive form of “brown” — an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading Brown’s Basin was off the beaten track, even nautically speaking.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In summer the foliage all but hides it from the shore, and in winter the grim, gray rocks give it ample security from the prying eyes of the world.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
colonynounUS /ˈkɑːləni/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
divisible by two
From this reading Brown’s Basin was off the beaten track, even nautically speaking.
apart from; not including
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
opinion or judgment
From this reading In summer the foliage all but hides it from the shore, and in winter the grim, gray rocks give it ample security from the prying eyes of the world.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
familiarlyadverb
in an intimately familiar manner
From this reading The Basin, as it is more familiarly known, thrives under the protection of the lofty Palisades.
foliagenounUS /ˈfoʊlɪdʒ/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading In summer the foliage all but hides it from the shore, and in winter the grim, gray rocks give it ample security from the prying eyes of the world.
having unexpected good fortune
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
set up or found
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In summer the foliage all but hides it from the shore, and in winter the grim, gray rocks give it ample security from the prying eyes of the world.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading In summer the foliage all but hides it from the shore, and in winter the grim, gray rocks give it ample security from the prying eyes of the world.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading In summer the foliage all but hides it from the shore, and in winter the grim, gray rocks give it ample security from the prying eyes of the world.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading In summer the foliage all but hides it from the shore, and in winter the grim, gray rocks give it ample security from the prying eyes of the world.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
hidesnounUS /haɪdz/
plural of “hide” — the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)
From this reading In summer the foliage all but hides it from the shore, and in winter the grim, gray rocks give it ample security from the prying eyes of the world.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
inletnounUS /ˈɪnlet/
an arm off of a larger body of water (often between rocky headlands)
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Basin, as it is more familiarly known, thrives under the protection of the lofty Palisades.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading The Basin, as it is more familiarly known, thrives under the protection of the lofty Palisades.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
loftyadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːfti/
of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
From this reading The Basin, as it is more familiarly known, thrives under the protection of the lofty Palisades.
merestadjectiveUS /ˈmerəst/
superlative of “mere” — being nothing more than specified
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The Basin, as it is more familiarly known, thrives under the protection of the lofty Palisades.
nautically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brown’s Basin was off the beaten track, even nautically speaking.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
not any; not one
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Brown’s Basin was off the beaten track, even nautically speaking.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
PalisadesnounUS /ˌpælɪˈseɪdz/
plural of “palisade” — fortification consisting of a strong fence made of stakes driven into the ground
From this reading The Basin, as it is more familiarly known, thrives under the protection of the lofty Palisades.
by chance
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/
more desirable than another
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
the activity of protecting someone or something
From this reading The Basin, as it is more familiarly known, thrives under the protection of the lofty Palisades.
pryingnounUS /ˈpraɪɪŋ/
offensive inquisitiveness
From this reading In summer the foliage all but hides it from the shore, and in winter the grim, gray rocks give it ample security from the prying eyes of the world.
rivermen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading In summer the foliage all but hides it from the shore, and in winter the grim, gray rocks give it ample security from the prying eyes of the world.
securitynounUS /sɪˈkjʊrəti/
the state of being free from danger or injury
From this reading In summer the foliage all but hides it from the shore, and in winter the grim, gray rocks give it ample security from the prying eyes of the world.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading In summer the foliage all but hides it from the shore, and in winter the grim, gray rocks give it ample security from the prying eyes of the world.
without speaking
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading Brown’s Basin was off the beaten track, even nautically speaking.
springsnounUS /sprɪŋz/
plural of “spring” — the season of growth
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
in a strange manner
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
sulks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading In summer the foliage all but hides it from the shore, and in winter the grim, gray rocks give it ample security from the prying eyes of the world.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Brown’s Basin was off the beaten track, even nautically speaking.
thrivesverbUS /θraɪvz/
third-person singular of “thrive” — grow vigorously
From this reading The Basin, as it is more familiarly known, thrives under the protection of the lofty Palisades.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading Brown’s Basin was off the beaten track, even nautically speaking.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
except if; if not
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Brown’s Basin was off the beaten track, even nautically speaking.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no closer to the colony than the shadowy inlet which sulks silently in the daylight hours and strangely springs to life under cover of the blackest nights.
which person or people
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading In summer the foliage all but hides it from the shore, and in winter the grim, gray rocks give it ample security from the prying eyes of the world.
in the company of; together with
From this reading One could never have found it except by the merest chance, unless one were fortunate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading In summer the foliage all but hides it from the shore, and in winter the grim, gray rocks give it ample security from the prying eyes of the world.
