used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
(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 Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He crossed on hands and knees the brief stretch that separated the tent from the lower end of the island.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE TEMPEST The wind was so violent that Ned dared not stand erect.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
BracingnounUS /ˈbreɪsɪŋ/
a structural member used to stiffen a framework
From this reading Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
of short duration or distance
From this reading He crossed on hands and knees the brief stretch that separated the tent from the lower end of the island.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
buttonwoodnoun
very large spreading plane tree of eastern and central North America to Mexico
From this reading The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty forcibly.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
canoesnounUS /kəˈnuːz/
plural of “canoe” — small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty forcibly.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
channelnounUS /ˈtʃænəl/
a path over which electrical signals can pass
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
crashverbUS /kræʃ/
fall or come down violently
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
placed crosswise
From this reading He crossed on hands and knees the brief stretch that separated the tent from the lower end of the island.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE TEMPEST The wind was so violent that Ned dared not stand erect.
plural of “direction” — a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading He crossed on hands and knees the brief stretch that separated the tent from the lower end of the island.
erectverbUS /ɪˈrekt/
construct, build, or erect
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE TEMPEST The wind was so violent that Ned dared not stand erect.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty forcibly.
forciblyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrsəbli/
in a forcible manner
From this reading The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty forcibly.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He crossed on hands and knees the brief stretch that separated the tent from the lower end of the island.
galenounUS /ɡeɪl/
a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
From this reading The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty forcibly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He crossed on hands and knees the brief stretch that separated the tent from the lower end of the island.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He crossed on hands and knees the brief stretch that separated the tent from the lower end of the island.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty forcibly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading He crossed on hands and knees the brief stretch that separated the tent from the lower end of the island.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading He crossed on hands and knees the brief stretch that separated the tent from the lower end of the island.
knockingnounUS /ˈnɑːkɪŋ/
the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
From this reading The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty forcibly.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading He crossed on hands and knees the brief stretch that separated the tent from the lower end of the island.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE TEMPEST The wind was so violent that Ned dared not stand erect.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty forcibly.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE TEMPEST The wind was so violent that Ned dared not stand erect.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE TEMPEST The wind was so violent that Ned dared not stand erect.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE TEMPEST The wind was so violent that Ned dared not stand erect.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He crossed on hands and knees the brief stretch that separated the tent from the lower end of the island.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty forcibly.
prostrateverbUS /ˈprɑːstreɪt/
get into a prostrate position, as in submission
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty forcibly.
being or feeling set or kept apart from others
From this reading He crossed on hands and knees the brief stretch that separated the tent from the lower end of the island.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE TEMPEST The wind was so violent that Ned dared not stand erect.
in the near future
From this reading Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
be standing; be upright
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE TEMPEST The wind was so violent that Ned dared not stand erect.
having a supporting base
From this reading The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty forcibly.
not in physical motion
From this reading The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty forcibly.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading He crossed on hands and knees the brief stretch that separated the tent from the lower end of the island.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
surprisingadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzɪŋ/
causing surprise or wonder or amazement
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
TEMPESTnounUS /ˈtempəst/
a violent commotion or disturbance
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE TEMPEST The wind was so violent that Ned dared not stand erect.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading He crossed on hands and knees the brief stretch that separated the tent from the lower end of the island.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE TEMPEST The wind was so violent that Ned dared not stand erect.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE TEMPEST The wind was so violent that Ned dared not stand erect.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty forcibly.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty forcibly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty forcibly.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty forcibly.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
uninjuredadjectiveUS /əˈnɪndʒərd/
not injured physically or mentally
From this reading The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty forcibly.
precisely as stated
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE TEMPEST The wind was so violent that Ned dared not stand erect.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE TEMPEST The wind was so violent that Ned dared not stand erect.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The buttonwood was still standing--much to his relief--and the canoes were so far uninjured, though the gale was knocking them together pretty forcibly.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Bracing himself against the buttonwood, Ned turned the lantern in all directions, and soon discovered the tree which had caused such alarm by its fall.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE TEMPEST The wind was so violent that Ned dared not stand erect.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading It lay prostrate on the other island, but as a channel barely half a dozen yards wide separated the two, it was not surprising that the crash should have sounded very near.
