used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading GOSHMEELEE In the deep, damp silence of the ancient forest you could not hear a sound.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading If any life were gnawing at the roots of this damp silence, or paddling among the slime, its teeth and toes were muffled.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading GOSHMEELEE In the deep, damp silence of the ancient forest you could not hear a sound.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Through the swampy thickets, sodden with old rain, and floored with slime, nothing stirred.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
cabbagenounUS /ˈkæbədʒ/
any of various types of cabbage
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
cedarnounUS /ˈsiːdər/
any of numerous trees of the family Cupressaceae that resemble cedars
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading GOSHMEELEE In the deep, damp silence of the ancient forest you could not hear a sound.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
craftilyadverb
in an artful manner
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading GOSHMEELEE In the deep, damp silence of the ancient forest you could not hear a sound.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading GOSHMEELEE In the deep, damp silence of the ancient forest you could not hear a sound.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
divisible by two
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
flooredadjectiveUS /flɔːrd/
provided with a floor
From this reading Through the swampy thickets, sodden with old rain, and floored with slime, nothing stirred.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading GOSHMEELEE In the deep, damp silence of the ancient forest you could not hear a sound.
set up or found
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
gnawingverbUS /ˈnɔːɪŋ/
-ing form of “gnaw” — bite or chew on with the teeth
From this reading If any life were gnawing at the roots of this damp silence, or paddling among the slime, its teeth and toes were muffled.
GOSHMEELEE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GOSHMEELEE In the deep, damp silence of the ancient forest you could not hear a sound.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading GOSHMEELEE In the deep, damp silence of the ancient forest you could not hear a sound.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading GOSHMEELEE In the deep, damp silence of the ancient forest you could not hear a sound.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading If any life were gnawing at the roots of this damp silence, or paddling among the slime, its teeth and toes were muffled.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
a particular point in time
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading If any life were gnawing at the roots of this damp silence, or paddling among the slime, its teeth and toes were muffled.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading GOSHMEELEE In the deep, damp silence of the ancient forest you could not hear a sound.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Through the swampy thickets, sodden with old rain, and floored with slime, nothing stirred.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading GOSHMEELEE In the deep, damp silence of the ancient forest you could not hear a sound.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Through the swampy thickets, sodden with old rain, and floored with slime, nothing stirred.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading If any life were gnawing at the roots of this damp silence, or paddling among the slime, its teeth and toes were muffled.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
paddlingverbUS /ˈpædəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “paddle” — propel with a paddle
From this reading If any life were gnawing at the roots of this damp silence, or paddling among the slime, its teeth and toes were muffled.
poplarnounUS /ˈpɑːplər/
soft light-colored non-durable wood of the poplar
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Through the swampy thickets, sodden with old rain, and floored with slime, nothing stirred.
robustadjectiveUS /roʊˈbʌst/
sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
rootsnounUS /ruːts/
the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage
From this reading If any life were gnawing at the roots of this damp silence, or paddling among the slime, its teeth and toes were muffled.
secrecynounUS /ˈsiːkrəsi/
the trait of keeping things secret
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading GOSHMEELEE In the deep, damp silence of the ancient forest you could not hear a sound.
skunknounUS /skʌŋk/
a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
slimeverbUS /slaɪm/
cover or stain with slime
From this reading Through the swampy thickets, sodden with old rain, and floored with slime, nothing stirred.
soddenadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːdən/
wet through and through; thoroughly wet
From this reading Through the swampy thickets, sodden with old rain, and floored with slime, nothing stirred.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading GOSHMEELEE In the deep, damp silence of the ancient forest you could not hear a sound.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
stealthnounUS /stelθ/
avoiding detection by moving carefully
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Through the swampy thickets, sodden with old rain, and floored with slime, nothing stirred.
swampyadjectiveUS /ˈswɑːmpi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading Through the swampy thickets, sodden with old rain, and floored with slime, nothing stirred.
tamaracknoun
medium-sized larch of Canada and northern United States including Alaska having a broad conic crown and rust-brown scaly bark
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading If any life were gnawing at the roots of this damp silence, or paddling among the slime, its teeth and toes were muffled.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading GOSHMEELEE In the deep, damp silence of the ancient forest you could not hear a sound.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
thicketsnounUS /ˈθɪkəts/
plural of “thicket” — a dense growth of bushes
From this reading Through the swampy thickets, sodden with old rain, and floored with slime, nothing stirred.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading If any life were gnawing at the roots of this damp silence, or paddling among the slime, its teeth and toes were muffled.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the swampy thickets, sodden with old rain, and floored with slime, nothing stirred.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
toesnounUS /toʊz/
plural of “toe” — one of the digits of the foot
From this reading If any life were gnawing at the roots of this damp silence, or paddling among the slime, its teeth and toes were muffled.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
vegetablenounUS /ˈvedʒtəbəl/
edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
precisely as stated
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
waterash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very trees--cedar, tamarack, waterash, and black poplar--seemed to do their growing by stealth, as if afraid of its being found out.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If any life were gnawing at the roots of this damp silence, or paddling among the slime, its teeth and toes were muffled.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Through the swampy thickets, sodden with old rain, and floored with slime, nothing stirred.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Even the skunk cabbage--that robust vegetable--spread its broad leaves craftily, as if it covered a world of secrecy, and might at any moment be forced to confess.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading GOSHMEELEE In the deep, damp silence of the ancient forest you could not hear a sound.
