used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For miles about the sea gleamed like a mirror.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading For miles about the sea gleamed like a mirror.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Picking his way with great caution along a winding sheep-trail, he reached the summit of the hill and looked about.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
athwartadverbUS /əˈθwɔːrt/
at right angles to the center line of a ship
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
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 grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
canyonnounUS /ˈkænjən/
a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall
From this reading From a small cave high up on a rocky canyon wall the figure of a man emerged and crept silently into the shadows.
canyonsnounUS /ˈkænjənz/
plural of “canyon” — a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
cautionnounUS /ˈkɑːʃən/
the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger
From this reading Picking his way with great caution along a winding sheep-trail, he reached the summit of the hill and looked about.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading From a small cave high up on a rocky canyon wall the figure of a man emerged and crept silently into the shadows.
checkeredadjectiveUS /ˈtʃekərd/
patterned with alternating squares of color
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading From a small cave high up on a rocky canyon wall the figure of a man emerged and crept silently into the shadows.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
Diablo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ISLAND'S PRISONER Diablo was steeped in moonlight.
emergedverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒd/
past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading From a small cave high up on a rocky canyon wall the figure of a man emerged and crept silently into the shadows.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading From a small cave high up on a rocky canyon wall the figure of a man emerged and crept silently into the shadows.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For miles about the sea gleamed like a mirror.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From a small cave high up on a rocky canyon wall the figure of a man emerged and crept silently into the shadows.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading For miles about the sea gleamed like a mirror.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Picking his way with great caution along a winding sheep-trail, he reached the summit of the hill and looked about.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
guardedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɑːrdəd/
prudent
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Picking his way with great caution along a winding sheep-trail, he reached the summit of the hill and looked about.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading From a small cave high up on a rocky canyon wall the figure of a man emerged and crept silently into the shadows.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Picking his way with great caution along a winding sheep-trail, he reached the summit of the hill and looked about.
hillsidesnounUS /ˈhɪlsaɪdz/
plural of “hillside” — the side or slope of a hill
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Picking his way with great caution along a winding sheep-trail, he reached the summit of the hill and looked about.
huggedverbUS /hʌɡd/
inflected form of “hug” — hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE ISLAND'S PRISONER Diablo was steeped in moonlight.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading From a small cave high up on a rocky canyon wall the figure of a man emerged and crept silently into the shadows.
ISLAND'SnounUS /ˈaɪləndz/
possessive form of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading THE ISLAND'S PRISONER Diablo was steeped in moonlight.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading For miles about the sea gleamed like a mirror.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Picking his way with great caution along a winding sheep-trail, he reached the summit of the hill and looked about.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading From a small cave high up on a rocky canyon wall the figure of a man emerged and crept silently into the shadows.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading For miles about the sea gleamed like a mirror.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading For miles about the sea gleamed like a mirror.
the light of the Moon
From this reading THE ISLAND'S PRISONER Diablo was steeped in moonlight.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading From a small cave high up on a rocky canyon wall the figure of a man emerged and crept silently into the shadows.
peaksnounUS /piːks/
plural of “peak” — the most extreme possible amount or value
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
PickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading Picking his way with great caution along a winding sheep-trail, he reached the summit of the hill and looked about.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading THE ISLAND'S PRISONER Diablo was steeped in moonlight.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Picking his way with great caution along a winding sheep-trail, he reached the summit of the hill and looked about.
robedadjectiveUS /roʊbd/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
rockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading From a small cave high up on a rocky canyon wall the figure of a man emerged and crept silently into the shadows.
saffronnounUS /ˈsæfrən/
Old World crocus having purple or white flowers with aromatic pungent orange stigmas used in flavoring food
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading For miles about the sea gleamed like a mirror.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
sheep-trail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Picking his way with great caution along a winding sheep-trail, he reached the summit of the hill and looked about.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
without speaking
From this reading From a small cave high up on a rocky canyon wall the figure of a man emerged and crept silently into the shadows.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading From a small cave high up on a rocky canyon wall the figure of a man emerged and crept silently into the shadows.
steepedverbUS /stiːpt/
past form of “steep” — devote (oneself) fully to
From this reading THE ISLAND'S PRISONER Diablo was steeped in moonlight.
summitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading Picking his way with great caution along a winding sheep-trail, he reached the summit of the hill and looked about.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ISLAND'S PRISONER Diablo was steeped in moonlight.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
toweringadjectiveUS /ˈtaʊərɪŋ/
of imposing height; especially standing out above others
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading From a small cave high up on a rocky canyon wall the figure of a man emerged and crept silently into the shadows.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading From a small cave high up on a rocky canyon wall the figure of a man emerged and crept silently into the shadows.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE ISLAND'S PRISONER Diablo was steeped in moonlight.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Picking his way with great caution along a winding sheep-trail, he reached the summit of the hill and looked about.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
windingadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪndɪŋ/
marked by repeated turns and bends
From this reading Picking his way with great caution along a winding sheep-trail, he reached the summit of the hill and looked about.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The grim mountains which guarded the shore were robed in saffron and checkered with black by the dark shadows of the towering peaks as they fell athwart the hillsides and mingled with the darkness which hugged the canyons.
