used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading That way ran the lead as traced already on its outer skirts, and that way burrowed Denis through its golden core.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He would have made the drive roomier but for an early warning as to the treacherous character of the red clay stratum immediately overhead.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That way ran the lead as traced already on its outer skirts, and that way burrowed Denis through its golden core.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That way ran the lead as traced already on its outer skirts, and that way burrowed Denis through its golden core.
the lower side of anything
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
burrowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That way ran the lead as traced already on its outer skirts, and that way burrowed Denis through its golden core.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The miniature corridor which he made was but two feet wide, and not six inches higher than its width.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Denis could just turn round in it by a series of systematic contortions.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading He would have made the drive roomier but for an early warning as to the treacherous character of the red clay stratum immediately overhead.
claynounUS /kleɪ/
a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
From this reading He would have made the drive roomier but for an early warning as to the treacherous character of the red clay stratum immediately overhead.
contortionsnounUS /kənˈtɔːrʃənz/
plural of “contortion” — the act of twisting or deforming the shape of something (e.g., yourself)
From this reading Denis could just turn round in it by a series of systematic contortions.
corenounUS /kɔːr/
a small group of indispensable persons or things
From this reading That way ran the lead as traced already on its outer skirts, and that way burrowed Denis through its golden core.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading The miniature corridor which he made was but two feet wide, and not six inches higher than its width.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Denis could just turn round in it by a series of systematic contortions.
COURIERnounUS /ˈkɜːriər/
a person who carries a message
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
Denis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading He would have made the drive roomier but for an early warning as to the treacherous character of the red clay stratum immediately overhead.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading He would have made the drive roomier but for an early warning as to the treacherous character of the red clay stratum immediately overhead.
fascinatingadjectiveUS /ˈfæsəneɪtɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The miniature corridor which he made was but two feet wide, and not six inches higher than its width.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He would have made the drive roomier but for an early warning as to the treacherous character of the red clay stratum immediately overhead.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading That way ran the lead as traced already on its outer skirts, and that way burrowed Denis through its golden core.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He would have made the drive roomier but for an early warning as to the treacherous character of the red clay stratum immediately overhead.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The miniature corridor which he made was but two feet wide, and not six inches higher than its width.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading The miniature corridor which he made was but two feet wide, and not six inches higher than its width.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading He would have made the drive roomier but for an early warning as to the treacherous character of the red clay stratum immediately overhead.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading The miniature corridor which he made was but two feet wide, and not six inches higher than its width.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Denis could just turn round in it by a series of systematic contortions.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading That way ran the lead as traced already on its outer skirts, and that way burrowed Denis through its golden core.
and nothing more
From this reading Denis could just turn round in it by a series of systematic contortions.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading That way ran the lead as traced already on its outer skirts, and that way burrowed Denis through its golden core.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The miniature corridor which he made was but two feet wide, and not six inches higher than its width.
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 COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
miniaturenounUS /ˈmɪniətʃʊr/
painting or drawing included in a book (especially in illuminated medieval manuscripts)
From this reading The miniature corridor which he made was but two feet wide, and not six inches higher than its width.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The miniature corridor which he made was but two feet wide, and not six inches higher than its width.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That way ran the lead as traced already on its outer skirts, and that way burrowed Denis through its golden core.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading That way ran the lead as traced already on its outer skirts, and that way burrowed Denis through its golden core.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading He would have made the drive roomier but for an early warning as to the treacherous character of the red clay stratum immediately overhead.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading That way ran the lead as traced already on its outer skirts, and that way burrowed Denis through its golden core.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading He would have made the drive roomier but for an early warning as to the treacherous character of the red clay stratum immediately overhead.
roomieradjectiveUS /ˈruːmiər/
comparative of “roomy” — (of buildings and rooms) having ample space
From this reading He would have made the drive roomier but for an early warning as to the treacherous character of the red clay stratum immediately overhead.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Denis could just turn round in it by a series of systematic contortions.
similar things placed in order or happening one after another
From this reading Denis could just turn round in it by a series of systematic contortions.
shaftnounUS /ʃæft/
a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading The miniature corridor which he made was but two feet wide, and not six inches higher than its width.
skirtsnounUS /skɜːrts/
plural of “skirt” — cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading That way ran the lead as traced already on its outer skirts, and that way burrowed Denis through its golden core.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
stratumnounUS /ˈstrætəm/
one of several parallel layers of material arranged one on top of another (such as a layer of tissue or cells in an organism or a layer of sedimentary rock)
From this reading He would have made the drive roomier but for an early warning as to the treacherous character of the red clay stratum immediately overhead.
systematicadjectiveUS /ˌsɪstəˈmætɪk/
characterized by order and planning
From this reading Denis could just turn round in it by a series of systematic contortions.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The miniature corridor which he made was but two feet wide, and not six inches higher than its width.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That way ran the lead as traced already on its outer skirts, and that way burrowed Denis through its golden core.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading That way ran the lead as traced already on its outer skirts, and that way burrowed Denis through its golden core.
very small
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He would have made the drive roomier but for an early warning as to the treacherous character of the red clay stratum immediately overhead.
tracedverbUS /treɪst/
past form of “trace” — follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
From this reading That way ran the lead as traced already on its outer skirts, and that way burrowed Denis through its golden core.
treacherousadjectiveUS /ˈtretʃərəs/
dangerously unstable and unpredictable
From this reading He would have made the drive roomier but for an early warning as to the treacherous character of the red clay stratum immediately overhead.
tunnelverbUS /ˈtʌnəl/
move through by or as by digging
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading Denis could just turn round in it by a series of systematic contortions.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The miniature corridor which he made was but two feet wide, and not six inches higher than its width.
undergroundadjectiveUS /ˈʌndərɡraʊnd/
under the level of the ground
From this reading THE COURIER OF DEATH Denis passed many days underground, in the fascinating pursuit of driving a tiny tunnel due south from the bottom of the shaft.
a message informing of danger
From this reading He would have made the drive roomier but for an early warning as to the treacherous character of the red clay stratum immediately overhead.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The miniature corridor which he made was but two feet wide, and not six inches higher than its width.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading That way ran the lead as traced already on its outer skirts, and that way burrowed Denis through its golden core.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The miniature corridor which he made was but two feet wide, and not six inches higher than its width.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The miniature corridor which he made was but two feet wide, and not six inches higher than its width.
widthnounUS /wɪdθ/
the extent of something from side to side
From this reading The miniature corridor which he made was but two feet wide, and not six inches higher than its width.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would have made the drive roomier but for an early warning as to the treacherous character of the red clay stratum immediately overhead.
