used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The water in the pails at the side of the tent had a skim of ice over it!
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading The two scouts were first awake the next morning.
basinnounUS /ˈbeɪsən/
a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids
From this reading Bennie broke the ice and poured some water in a basin, dousing it on his face and spluttering with the cold.
BennienounUS /ˈbeni/
a form of amphetamine
From this reading Bennie broke the ice and poured some water in a basin, dousing it on his face and spluttering with the cold.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
lacking funds
From this reading Bennie broke the ice and poured some water in a basin, dousing it on his face and spluttering with the cold.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
dousingnounUS /ˈdaʊsɪŋ/
the act of wetting something by submerging it
From this reading Bennie broke the ice and poured some water in a basin, dousing it on his face and spluttering with the cold.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Bennie broke the ice and poured some water in a basin, dousing it on his face and spluttering with the cold.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The two scouts were first awake the next morning.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The water in the pails at the side of the tent had a skim of ice over it!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Bennie broke the ice and poured some water in a basin, dousing it on his face and spluttering with the cold.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading The water in the pails at the side of the tent had a skim of ice over it!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
and nothing more
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
mistsnounUS /mɪsts/
plural of “mist” — a thin fog with condensation near the ground
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The two scouts were first awake the next morning.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The two scouts were first awake the next morning.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
not any; not one
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Bennie broke the ice and poured some water in a basin, dousing it on his face and spluttering with the cold.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
pailsnounUS /peɪlz/
plural of “pail” — a roughly cylindrical vessel that is open at the top
From this reading The water in the pails at the side of the tent had a skim of ice over it!
past form of “pour” — cause to run
From this reading Bennie broke the ice and poured some water in a basin, dousing it on his face and spluttering with the cold.
rimnounUS /rɪm/
the shape of a raised edge of a more or less circular object
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
scoutsnounUS /skaʊts/
plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading The two scouts were first awake the next morning.
shiveryadjective
cold enough to cause shivers
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The water in the pails at the side of the tent had a skim of ice over it!
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
skimverbUS /skɪm/
travel on the surface of water
From this reading The water in the pails at the side of the tent had a skim of ice over it!
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Bennie broke the ice and poured some water in a basin, dousing it on his face and spluttering with the cold.
spluttering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bennie broke the ice and poured some water in a basin, dousing it on his face and spluttering with the cold.
not in physical motion
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The two scouts were first awake the next morning.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two scouts were first awake the next morning.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
upsidenounUS /ˈʌpˈsaɪd/
the highest or uppermost side of anything
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
washverbUS /wɑːʃ/
clean with some chemical process
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They took no more time getting dressed than the law allowed, for it was shivery cold, and then went outside the tent to wash.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The two scouts were first awake the next morning.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The sun was just coming up, and the night mists still hung around the sides of the rim and over the water of the lake, which was so still that it was exactly like a huge bright blue mirror, six miles wide, in which everything hung upside down.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Bennie broke the ice and poured some water in a basin, dousing it on his face and spluttering with the cold.
