used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
athwartadverbUS /əˈθwɔːrt/
at right angles to the center line of a ship
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
barrensnounUS /ˈbærənz/
plural of “barren” — an uninhabited wilderness that is worthless for cultivation
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
beltnounUS /belt/
endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
BENSON
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
birchnounUS /bɜːrtʃ/
hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
BlakenounUS /bleɪk/
visionary British poet and painter (1757-1827)
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
clumpsnounUS /klʌmps/
plural of “clump” — a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
traveling across
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
cutsnounUS /kʌts/
plural of “cut” — a share of the profits
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
dottedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːtəd/
having a pattern of dots
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
fadingnounUS /ˈfeɪdɪŋ/
weakening in force or intensity
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
forbiddingadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪdɪŋ/
harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
FortunatelyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by good fortune
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
gnarledadjectiveUS /nɑːrld/
used of old persons or old trees; covered with knobs or knots
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
HardingnounUS /ˈhɑːrdɪŋ/
29th President of the United States; two of his appointees were involved in the Teapot Dome scandal (1865-1823)
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
inhabitedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈhæbətəd/
having inhabitants; lived in
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
laggingnounUS /ˈlæɡɪŋ/
insulation used to wrap around pipes or boilers or laid in attics to prevent loss of heat
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
marshnounUS /mɑːrʃ/
low-lying wet land with grassy vegetation; usually is a transition zone between land and water
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
muskeg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
needlesnounUS /ˈniːdəlz/
plural of “needle” — the leaf of a conifer
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
not any; not one
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
packhorses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
patchesnounUS /ˈpætʃəz/
plural of “patch” — a small contrasting part of something
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
select carefully from a group
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
poplarnounUS /ˈpɑːplər/
soft light-colored non-durable wood of the poplar
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
uttered with a trill
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
sparselyadverbUS /ˈspɑːrsli/
in a sparse way
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
sprucenounUS /spruːs/
light soft moderately strong wood of spruce trees; used especially for timbers and millwork
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
spruces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
not in physical motion
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
stragglingadjective
spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
timbernounUS /ˈtɪmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
travellersnounUS /ˈtrævələrz/
plural of “traveller” — a person who changes location
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
a source of difficulty
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
unsymmetricallyadverb
in an asymmetrical manner
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
at the time that
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading They had spent some time crossing a wide stretch of rolling country, dotted with clumps of poplar and birch, which was still sparsely inhabited, and now they had reached the edge of the timber belt that cuts off the prairie from the desolate barrens.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The spruces were gnarled and twisted by the wind, a number of them were dead, and many of the rest leaned unsymmetrically athwart each other.
in the company of; together with
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
witheredadjectiveUS /ˈwɪðərd/
lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
From this reading Fortunately, however, it was thin enough for the travellers to pick their way among the fallen branches and patches of muskeg, for the ground was marsh and their feet sank among the withered needles.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading BENSON GIVES TROUBLE It was nearly dark when Blake and Harding led two packhorses through a thin spruce wood, with Benson lagging a short distance behind.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading The straggling wood had no beauty and in the fading light wore a dreary, forbidding look.
