used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading “According to the map, there’s no other stream of any importance we have to cross.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “According to the map, there’s no other stream of any importance we have to cross.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That means, Sandy, that we must be very close to the end of our journey.”
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Off in the northwest, a low-lying haze or ribbon of mist indicated the presence of a body of water.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading That means, Sandy, that we must be very close to the end of our journey.”
travel across or pass over
From this reading “According to the map, there’s no other stream of any importance we have to cross.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
someone who is a detective
From this reading “It’s probably Thunder River,” Dick surmised.
disappearancenounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrəns/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading That means, Sandy, that we must be very close to the end of our journey.”
fertileadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrtəl/
capable of reproducing
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
gullynounUS /ˈɡʌli/
deep ditch cut by running water (especially after a prolonged downpour)
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “According to the map, there’s no other stream of any importance we have to cross.
hazenounUS /heɪz/
atmospheric moisture or dust or smoke that causes reduced visibility
From this reading Off in the northwest, a low-lying haze or ribbon of mist indicated the presence of a body of water.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading “According to the map, there’s no other stream of any importance we have to cross.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Off in the northwest, a low-lying haze or ribbon of mist indicated the presence of a body of water.
indicatedverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪtəd/
past form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading Off in the northwest, a low-lying haze or ribbon of mist indicated the presence of a body of water.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s probably Thunder River,” Dick surmised.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading That means, Sandy, that we must be very close to the end of our journey.”
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
low-lyingadjective
having a small elevation above the ground or horizon or sea level
From this reading Off in the northwest, a low-lying haze or ribbon of mist indicated the presence of a body of water.
mapverbUS /mæp/
make a map of; show or establish the features of details of
From this reading “According to the map, there’s no other stream of any importance we have to cross.
meadownounUS /ˈmedoʊ/
a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading That means, Sandy, that we must be very close to the end of our journey.”
being nothing more than specified
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
become covered with mist
From this reading Off in the northwest, a low-lying haze or ribbon of mist indicated the presence of a body of water.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading That means, Sandy, that we must be very close to the end of our journey.”
narrowedadjectiveUS /ˈneroʊd/
reduced in size as by squeezing together
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
not any; not one
From this reading “According to the map, there’s no other stream of any importance we have to cross.
northwestnounUS /ˌnɔːrˈθwest/
the northwestern region of the United States
From this reading Off in the northwest, a low-lying haze or ribbon of mist indicated the presence of a body of water.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Off in the northwest, a low-lying haze or ribbon of mist indicated the presence of a body of water.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Off in the northwest, a low-lying haze or ribbon of mist indicated the presence of a body of water.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading “According to the map, there’s no other stream of any importance we have to cross.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading That means, Sandy, that we must be very close to the end of our journey.”
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
pack-horses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
packersnounUS /ˈpækərz/
plural of “packer” — a workman employed to pack things into containers
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
precipitousadjectiveUS /prɪˈsɪpɪtəs/
done with very great haste and without due deliberation
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading Off in the northwest, a low-lying haze or ribbon of mist indicated the presence of a body of water.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading “It’s probably Thunder River,” Dick surmised.
ravinenounUS /rəˈviːn/
a deep narrow steep-sided valley (especially one formed by running water)
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
ribbonnounUS /ˈrɪbən/
any long object resembling a thin line
From this reading Off in the northwest, a low-lying haze or ribbon of mist indicated the presence of a body of water.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading “It’s probably Thunder River,” Dick surmised.
SandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/
of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown
From this reading That means, Sandy, that we must be very close to the end of our journey.”
scrambledadjectiveUS /ˈskræmbəld/
thrown together in a disorderly fashion
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading “According to the map, there’s no other stream of any importance we have to cross.
surmisedverbUS /sərˈmaɪzd/
past form of “surmise” — infer from incomplete evidence
From this reading “It’s probably Thunder River,” Dick surmised.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That means, Sandy, that we must be very close to the end of our journey.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
there's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “According to the map, there’s no other stream of any importance we have to cross.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading “It’s probably Thunder River,” Dick surmised.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading On the afternoon of the day following the disappearance of the two packers, the ravine narrowed down to a mere gully, and the three boys, leading the pack-horses, scrambled up the precipitous slope to find themselves looking out across a broad and fertile meadow.
precisely as stated
From this reading That means, Sandy, that we must be very close to the end of our journey.”
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 Off in the northwest, a low-lying haze or ribbon of mist indicated the presence of a body of water.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “According to the map, there’s no other stream of any importance we have to cross.
