used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN ATTACK.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It did not seem practicable by any means to convey the canoe below the falls.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading AN ATTACK.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading On the bank were woods so dense that sunlight could not penetrate the shade.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading It did not seem practicable by any means to convey the canoe below the falls.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
canoenounUS /kəˈnuː/
small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
cataractnounUS /ˈkætərækt/
an eye disease that involves the clouding or opacification of the natural lens of the eye
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading Dick was conscious of a sad misgiving when he looked at the character of the territory through which they must necessarily pass.
intentionally conceived
From this reading Dick was conscious of a sad misgiving when he looked at the character of the territory through which they must necessarily pass.
conveyverbUS /kənˈveɪ/
(of information) make known; pass on
From this reading It did not seem practicable by any means to convey the canoe below the falls.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading On the bank were woods so dense that sunlight could not penetrate the shade.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading On the bank were woods so dense that sunlight could not penetrate the shade.
someone who is a detective
From this reading Dick was conscious of a sad misgiving when he looked at the character of the territory through which they must necessarily pass.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It did not seem practicable by any means to convey the canoe below the falls.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
the petals or sepals of a flower that bend downward (especially the outer perianth of an iris)
From this reading It did not seem practicable by any means to convey the canoe below the falls.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Dick was conscious of a sad misgiving when he looked at the character of the territory through which they must necessarily pass.
ten 10s
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It did not seem practicable by any means to convey the canoe below the falls.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Dick was conscious of a sad misgiving when he looked at the character of the territory through which they must necessarily pass.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading It did not seem practicable by any means to convey the canoe below the falls.
misgivingnounUS /mɪsˈɡɪvɪŋ/
uneasiness about the fitness of an action
From this reading Dick was conscious of a sad misgiving when he looked at the character of the territory through which they must necessarily pass.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Dick was conscious of a sad misgiving when he looked at the character of the territory through which they must necessarily pass.
necessarilyadverbUS /ˌnesəˈserəli/
in an essential manner
From this reading Dick was conscious of a sad misgiving when he looked at the character of the territory through which they must necessarily pass.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading On the bank were woods so dense that sunlight could not penetrate the shade.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the bank were woods so dense that sunlight could not penetrate the shade.
go across or through
From this reading Dick was conscious of a sad misgiving when he looked at the character of the territory through which they must necessarily pass.
penetrateverbUS /ˈpenətreɪt/
pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
From this reading On the bank were woods so dense that sunlight could not penetrate the shade.
practicableadjectiveUS /ˈpræktəkəbəl/
usable for a specific purpose
From this reading It did not seem practicable by any means to convey the canoe below the falls.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
without much difficulty
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
river-bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading Dick was conscious of a sad misgiving when he looked at the character of the territory through which they must necessarily pass.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It did not seem practicable by any means to convey the canoe below the falls.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading On the bank were woods so dense that sunlight could not penetrate the shade.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
the rays of the sun
From this reading On the bank were woods so dense that sunlight could not penetrate the shade.
territorynounUS /ˈterɪtɔːri/
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading Dick was conscious of a sad misgiving when he looked at the character of the territory through which they must necessarily pass.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Dick was conscious of a sad misgiving when he looked at the character of the territory through which they must necessarily pass.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Dick was conscious of a sad misgiving when he looked at the character of the territory through which they must necessarily pass.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
unaffectedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈfektɪd/
undergoing no change when acted upon
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On the bank were woods so dense that sunlight could not penetrate the shade.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
at the time that
From this reading Dick was conscious of a sad misgiving when he looked at the character of the territory through which they must necessarily pass.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Dick was conscious of a sad misgiving when he looked at the character of the territory through which they must necessarily pass.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading On the bank were woods so dense that sunlight could not penetrate the shade.
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 The canoe inclined to the west readily enough; the fall in the river-bed was so sudden that the current remained quite unaffected by the cataract at a distance of three hundred yards.
