used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE WATCH ON THE RHINE Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
barbedadjectiveUS /bɑːrbd/
capable of wounding
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
blockhousesnounUS /ˈblɑːkhaʊsəz/
plural of “blockhouse” — a stronghold that is reinforced for protection from enemy fire; with apertures for defensive fire
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading THE WATCH ON THE RHINE Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
criss-crossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading THE WATCH ON THE RHINE Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
the organ of sight
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
enclose with a fence
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
flatsnounUS /flæts/
footwear (shoes or slippers) with no heel (or a very low heel)
From this reading THE WATCH ON THE RHINE Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
flowedverbUS /floʊd/
past form of “flow” — move or progress freely as if in a stream
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
forbiddingadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪdɪŋ/
harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance
From this reading There was something relentless, forbidding, in that savage fence.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
glintverbUS /ɡlɪnt/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
muddyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading THE WATCH ON THE RHINE Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
not any; not one
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE WATCH ON THE RHINE Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE WATCH ON THE RHINE Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
patrolledverbUS /pəˈtroʊld/
inflected form of “patrol” — maintain the security of by carrying out a patrol
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
relentlessadjectiveUS /rɪˈlentlɪs/
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading There was something relentless, forbidding, in that savage fence.
RHINEnounUS /raɪn/
United States parapsychologist (1895-1980)
From this reading THE WATCH ON THE RHINE Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
move upward
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
rudelyadverbUS /ˈruːdli/
in an impolite manner
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading There was something relentless, forbidding, in that savage fence.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
sentriesnounUS /ˈsentriz/
plural of “sentry” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
skylinenounUS /ˈskaɪlaɪn/
the outline of objects seen against the sky
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
sluggishlyadverbUS /ˈslʌɡɪʃli/
in a sluggish manner
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There was something relentless, forbidding, in that savage fence.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
not in physical motion
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/
act of expanding by lengthening or widening
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was something relentless, forbidding, in that savage fence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WATCH ON THE RHINE Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
thicklyadverbUS /ˈθɪkli/
spoken with poor articulation as if with a thick tongue
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
threadverbUS /θred/
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE WATCH ON THE RHINE Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE WATCH ON THE RHINE Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading THE WATCH ON THE RHINE Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
look attentively
From this reading THE WATCH ON THE RHINE Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
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 Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
wirenounUS /ˈwaɪər/
ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
