used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading What he saw, was only a mass of shadowy boulders, far below, with the wreck of a pine-tree fallen across the creek.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Then they disappeared, and peering out from behind the foliage, he saw that they were retreating rapidly along the ledge.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then they disappeared, and peering out from behind the foliage, he saw that they were retreating rapidly along the ledge.
any thing at all
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Through the opening he could see the Indians gesticulating wildly on the other side of the chasm, as they gazed down into the gorge.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Then they disappeared, and peering out from behind the foliage, he saw that they were retreating rapidly along the ledge.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading What he saw, was only a mass of shadowy boulders, far below, with the wreck of a pine-tree fallen across the creek.
bouldersnounUS /ˈboʊldərz/
plural of “boulder” — a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin
From this reading What he saw, was only a mass of shadowy boulders, far below, with the wreck of a pine-tree fallen across the creek.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
chasmnounUS /ˈkæzəm/
a deep opening in the earth's surface
From this reading Through the opening he could see the Indians gesticulating wildly on the other side of the chasm, as they gazed down into the gorge.
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Through the opening he could see the Indians gesticulating wildly on the other side of the chasm, as they gazed down into the gorge.
creeknounUS /kriːk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading What he saw, was only a mass of shadowy boulders, far below, with the wreck of a pine-tree fallen across the creek.
crouchverbUS /kraʊtʃ/
bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading Then they disappeared, and peering out from behind the foliage, he saw that they were retreating rapidly along the ledge.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Through the opening he could see the Indians gesticulating wildly on the other side of the chasm, as they gazed down into the gorge.
dreadingverbUS /ˈdredɪŋ/
-ing form of “dread” — be afraid or scared of; be frightened of
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
DUSTYadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading What he saw, was only a mass of shadowy boulders, far below, with the wreck of a pine-tree fallen across the creek.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading What he saw, was only a mass of shadowy boulders, far below, with the wreck of a pine-tree fallen across the creek.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
foliagenounUS /ˈfoʊlɪdʒ/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Then they disappeared, and peering out from behind the foliage, he saw that they were retreating rapidly along the ledge.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then they disappeared, and peering out from behind the foliage, he saw that they were retreating rapidly along the ledge.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Through the opening he could see the Indians gesticulating wildly on the other side of the chasm, as they gazed down into the gorge.
gesticulatingadjective
making gestures while speaking
From this reading Through the opening he could see the Indians gesticulating wildly on the other side of the chasm, as they gazed down into the gorge.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
gorgeverbUS /ɡɔːrdʒ/
overeat or eat immodestly; make a pig of oneself
From this reading Through the opening he could see the Indians gesticulating wildly on the other side of the chasm, as they gazed down into the gorge.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
hidingnounUS /ˈhaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of keeping something secret
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading Through the opening he could see the Indians gesticulating wildly on the other side of the chasm, as they gazed down into the gorge.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Through the opening he could see the Indians gesticulating wildly on the other side of the chasm, as they gazed down into the gorge.
ledgenounUS /ledʒ/
a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading Then they disappeared, and peering out from behind the foliage, he saw that they were retreating rapidly along the ledge.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
loweringadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərɪŋ/
darkened by clouds
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading What he saw, was only a mass of shadowy boulders, far below, with the wreck of a pine-tree fallen across the creek.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Through the opening he could see the Indians gesticulating wildly on the other side of the chasm, as they gazed down into the gorge.
and nothing more
From this reading What he saw, was only a mass of shadowy boulders, far below, with the wreck of a pine-tree fallen across the creek.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Through the opening he could see the Indians gesticulating wildly on the other side of the chasm, as they gazed down into the gorge.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Through the opening he could see the Indians gesticulating wildly on the other side of the chasm, as they gazed down into the gorge.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Then they disappeared, and peering out from behind the foliage, he saw that they were retreating rapidly along the ledge.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Then they disappeared, and peering out from behind the foliage, he saw that they were retreating rapidly along the ledge.
pine-tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he saw, was only a mass of shadowy boulders, far below, with the wreck of a pine-tree fallen across the creek.
pine-tree's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
precipicenounUS /ˈpresəpəs/
a very steep cliff
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
with speed
From this reading Then they disappeared, and peering out from behind the foliage, he saw that they were retreating rapidly along the ledge.
retreatingverbUS /riˈtriːtɪŋ/
-ing form of “retreat” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading Then they disappeared, and peering out from behind the foliage, he saw that they were retreating rapidly along the ledge.
rootsnounUS /ruːts/
the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
cut with a saw
From this reading Then they disappeared, and peering out from behind the foliage, he saw that they were retreating rapidly along the ledge.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Through the opening he could see the Indians gesticulating wildly on the other side of the chasm, as they gazed down into the gorge.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading What he saw, was only a mass of shadowy boulders, far below, with the wreck of a pine-tree fallen across the creek.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Through the opening he could see the Indians gesticulating wildly on the other side of the chasm, as they gazed down into the gorge.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
terrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪd/
thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then they disappeared, and peering out from behind the foliage, he saw that they were retreating rapidly along the ledge.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then they disappeared, and peering out from behind the foliage, he saw that they were retreating rapidly along the ledge.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Through the opening he could see the Indians gesticulating wildly on the other side of the chasm, as they gazed down into the gorge.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the opening he could see the Indians gesticulating wildly on the other side of the chasm, as they gazed down into the gorge.
up to a particular time
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
precisely as stated
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Then they disappeared, and peering out from behind the foliage, he saw that they were retreating rapidly along the ledge.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He waited a little to allow them to get out of sight; then cautiously climbed down from his hiding place, and, lowering himself by the pine-tree's roots till he hung over the very edge of the precipice, looked down, dreading what he might see.
in or at the place that
From this reading THE TAKING OF DUSTY STAR For the first few moments after this awful event, Dusty Star was too terrified to do anything but crouch where he was.
wildlyadverbUS /ˈwaɪldli/
to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree
From this reading Through the opening he could see the Indians gesticulating wildly on the other side of the chasm, as they gazed down into the gorge.
in the company of; together with
From this reading What he saw, was only a mass of shadowy boulders, far below, with the wreck of a pine-tree fallen across the creek.
wrecknounUS /rek/
something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation
From this reading What he saw, was only a mass of shadowy boulders, far below, with the wreck of a pine-tree fallen across the creek.
