used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In a few hours the work was done, and they were ready to go down the river at a moment’s warning.
(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 The three men began to complete their raft, working with all their power.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In a few hours the work was done, and they were ready to go down the river at a moment’s warning.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Then Ben set to work upon another cache for his skins, which it would be impossible to take with him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In a few hours the work was done, and they were ready to go down the river at a moment’s warning.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Then Ben set to work upon another cache for his skins, which it would be impossible to take with him.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The three men began to complete their raft, working with all their power.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading Then Ben set to work upon another cache for his skins, which it would be impossible to take with him.
cachenounUS /kæʃ/
a hidden storage space (for money or provisions or weapons)
From this reading Then Ben set to work upon another cache for his skins, which it would be impossible to take with him.
cañon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chose a place within the cañon through which the river ran, and here he laid the skins.
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading He chose a place within the cañon through which the river ran, and here he laid the skins.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading The three men began to complete their raft, working with all their power.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading In a few hours the work was done, and they were ready to go down the river at a moment’s warning.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading In a few hours the work was done, and they were ready to go down the river at a moment’s warning.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading In a few hours the work was done, and they were ready to go down the river at a moment’s warning.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Then Ben set to work upon another cache for his skins, which it would be impossible to take with him.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading In a few hours the work was done, and they were ready to go down the river at a moment’s warning.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He chose a place within the cañon through which the river ran, and here he laid the skins.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading He chose a place within the cañon through which the river ran, and here he laid the skins.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then Ben set to work upon another cache for his skins, which it would be impossible to take with him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then Ben set to work upon another cache for his skins, which it would be impossible to take with him.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading In a few hours the work was done, and they were ready to go down the river at a moment’s warning.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading Then Ben set to work upon another cache for his skins, which it would be impossible to take with him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a few hours the work was done, and they were ready to go down the river at a moment’s warning.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then Ben set to work upon another cache for his skins, which it would be impossible to take with him.
set down according to a plan
From this reading He chose a place within the cañon through which the river ran, and here he laid the skins.
the force of workers available
From this reading The three men began to complete their raft, working with all their power.
moment'snounUS /ˈmoʊmənts/
possessive form of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading In a few hours the work was done, and they were ready to go down the river at a moment’s warning.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He chose a place within the cañon through which the river ran, and here he laid the skins.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading The three men began to complete their raft, working with all their power.
raftnounUS /ræft/
a flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be used for transport or as a platform for swimmers
From this reading The three men began to complete their raft, working with all their power.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading He chose a place within the cañon through which the river ran, and here he laid the skins.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading In a few hours the work was done, and they were ready to go down the river at a moment’s warning.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading In a few hours the work was done, and they were ready to go down the river at a moment’s warning.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Then Ben set to work upon another cache for his skins, which it would be impossible to take with him.
skinsnounUS /skɪnz/
plural of “skin” — a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading Then Ben set to work upon another cache for his skins, which it would be impossible to take with him.
SNAREnounUS /sner/
something (often something deceptively attractive) that catches you unawares
From this reading THROUGH THE SNARE.
carry out
From this reading Then Ben set to work upon another cache for his skins, which it would be impossible to take with him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THROUGH THE SNARE.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The three men began to complete their raft, working with all their power.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then Ben set to work upon another cache for his skins, which it would be impossible to take with him.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In a few hours the work was done, and they were ready to go down the river at a moment’s warning.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The three men began to complete their raft, working with all their power.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading THROUGH THE SNARE.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The three men began to complete their raft, working with all their power.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Then Ben set to work upon another cache for his skins, which it would be impossible to take with him.
a message informing of danger
From this reading In a few hours the work was done, and they were ready to go down the river at a moment’s warning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In a few hours the work was done, and they were ready to go down the river at a moment’s warning.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In a few hours the work was done, and they were ready to go down the river at a moment’s warning.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then Ben set to work upon another cache for his skins, which it would be impossible to take with him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The three men began to complete their raft, working with all their power.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading He chose a place within the cañon through which the river ran, and here he laid the skins.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading In a few hours the work was done, and they were ready to go down the river at a moment’s warning.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading The three men began to complete their raft, working with all their power.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Then Ben set to work upon another cache for his skins, which it would be impossible to take with him.
