used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
beggarsnounUS /ˈbeɡərz/
plural of “beggar” — a pauper who lives by begging
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Her glorious black hair had not the dampness of death in it now, but was luxuriously sensate with renewed life and health and possible happiness.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Once fairly on our way, it did not take long to persuade me that she was not only gaining strength each day in body but in soul.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Once fairly on our way, it did not take long to persuade me that she was not only gaining strength each day in body but in soul.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
camelnounUS /ˈkæməl/
cud-chewing mammal used as a draft or saddle animal in desert regions
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
clay-colored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
dampnessnounUS /ˈdæmpnɪs/
a slight wetness
From this reading Her glorious black hair had not the dampness of death in it now, but was luxuriously sensate with renewed life and health and possible happiness.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Once fairly on our way, it did not take long to persuade me that she was not only gaining strength each day in body but in soul.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Her glorious black hair had not the dampness of death in it now, but was luxuriously sensate with renewed life and health and possible happiness.
recognizable; marked
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Once fairly on our way, it did not take long to persuade me that she was not only gaining strength each day in body but in soul.
diseasenounUS /dɪˈziːz/
an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Once fairly on our way, it did not take long to persuade me that she was not only gaining strength each day in body but in soul.
EgyptnounUS /ˈiːdʒəpt/
a republic in northeastern Africa known as the United Arab Republic until 1971; site of an ancient civilization that flourished from 2600 to 30 BC
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading But she was stronger, there were roses in her face.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading Once fairly on our way, it did not take long to persuade me that she was not only gaining strength each day in body but in soul.
famishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
gainingverbUS /ˈɡeɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading Once fairly on our way, it did not take long to persuade me that she was not only gaining strength each day in body but in soul.
gauntadjectiveUS /ɡɔːnt/
very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
having or deserving or conferring glory
From this reading Her glorious black hair had not the dampness of death in it now, but was luxuriously sensate with renewed life and health and possible happiness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading Her glorious black hair had not the dampness of death in it now, but was luxuriously sensate with renewed life and health and possible happiness.
hauntverbUS /hɔːnt/
follow stealthily or recur constantly and spontaneously to
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading Her glorious black hair had not the dampness of death in it now, but was luxuriously sensate with renewed life and health and possible happiness.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But she was stronger, there were roses in her face.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
jackals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
Kamak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
staying power
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Her glorious black hair had not the dampness of death in it now, but was luxuriously sensate with renewed life and health and possible happiness.
lionsnounUS /ˈlaɪənz/
plural of “lion” — large gregarious predatory feline of Africa and India having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Once fairly on our way, it did not take long to persuade me that she was not only gaining strength each day in body but in soul.
luxuriouslyadverb
in an indulgently luxurious manner
From this reading Her glorious black hair had not the dampness of death in it now, but was luxuriously sensate with renewed life and health and possible happiness.
engage in
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Once fairly on our way, it did not take long to persuade me that she was not only gaining strength each day in body but in soul.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
NilenounUS /naɪl/
the world's longest river (4150 miles); flows northward through eastern Africa into the Mediterranean; the Nile River valley in Egypt was the site of the world's first great civilization
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Once fairly on our way, it did not take long to persuade me that she was not only gaining strength each day in body but in soul.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Her glorious black hair had not the dampness of death in it now, but was luxuriously sensate with renewed life and health and possible happiness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
on one occasion
From this reading Once fairly on our way, it did not take long to persuade me that she was not only gaining strength each day in body but in soul.
and nothing more
From this reading Once fairly on our way, it did not take long to persuade me that she was not only gaining strength each day in body but in soul.
oppressivelyadverb
in a heavy and oppressive way
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
outgoingadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtɡoʊɪŋ/
leaving a place or a position
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
palmnounUS /pɑːm/
the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
persuadeverbUS /pərˈsweɪd/
win approval or support for
From this reading Once fairly on our way, it did not take long to persuade me that she was not only gaining strength each day in body but in soul.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Her glorious black hair had not the dampness of death in it now, but was luxuriously sensate with renewed life and health and possible happiness.
renewedadjectiveUS /rɪˈnuːd/
restored to a new condition
From this reading Her glorious black hair had not the dampness of death in it now, but was luxuriously sensate with renewed life and health and possible happiness.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading But she was stronger, there were roses in her face.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
sensateadjective
having physical sensation
From this reading Her glorious black hair had not the dampness of death in it now, but was luxuriously sensate with renewed life and health and possible happiness.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once fairly on our way, it did not take long to persuade me that she was not only gaining strength each day in body but in soul.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading Once fairly on our way, it did not take long to persuade me that she was not only gaining strength each day in body but in soul.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading Once fairly on our way, it did not take long to persuade me that she was not only gaining strength each day in body but in soul.
comparative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading But she was stronger, there were roses in her face.
carry out
From this reading Once fairly on our way, it did not take long to persuade me that she was not only gaining strength each day in body but in soul.
tatteredadjectiveUS /ˈtætərd/
worn to shreds; or wearing torn or ragged clothing
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But she was stronger, there were roses in her face.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
tombsnounUS /tuːmz/
plural of “tomb” — a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone)
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
tossingverbUS /ˈtɔːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
touristsnounUS /ˈtʊrəsts/
plural of “tourist” — someone who travels for pleasure
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Once fairly on our way, it did not take long to persuade me that she was not only gaining strength each day in body but in soul.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But she was stronger, there were roses in her face.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading As winter came on and Egypt began to be oppressively full of tourists, it was decided that we should make our escape up the Nile and haunt the ruin of Kamak and other places until the outgoing tide set in.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her glorious black hair had not the dampness of death in it now, but was luxuriously sensate with renewed life and health and possible happiness.
distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)
From this reading We had been more than a month on the Nile; a tattered palm tree here tossing in the wind and sand; a gaunt, clay-colored camel yonder, all legs and hair; beggars, disease, despair all around us; a land to fly from, fit place for tombs, jackals, and famishing lions!
