adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
alarmnounUS /əˈlɑːrm/
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading As the machinery of the _Mermaid_ was now in working order there was no further alarm because of the darkness.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 The ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading As the machinery of the _Mermaid_ was now in working order there was no further alarm because of the darkness.
bednounUS /bed/
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading The ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
breakfastverbUS /ˈbrekfəst/
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Though they had to forego fish for breakfast the travelers made a good meal.
broughtverbUS /brɔːt/
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
calledverbUS /kɔːld/
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading As the machinery of the _Mermaid_ was now in working order there was no further alarm because of the darkness.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
dessertnounUS /dɪˈzɜːrt/
a dish served as the last course of a meal
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
fasteningsnounUS /ˈfæsənɪŋz/
plural of “fastening” — restraint that attaches to something or holds something in place
From this reading The ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.
finishedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪnɪʃt/
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
fishnounUS /fɪʃ/
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading Though they had to forego fish for breakfast the travelers made a good meal.
foodnounUS /fuːd/
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Though they had to forego fish for breakfast the travelers made a good meal.
foregoverbUS /fɔːrˈɡoʊ/
be earlier in time; go back further
From this reading Though they had to forego fish for breakfast the travelers made a good meal.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
fruitnounUS /fruːt/
the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
furtheradverbUS /ˈfɜːrðər/
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading As the machinery of the _Mermaid_ was now in working order there was no further alarm because of the darkness.
giantnounUS /ˈdʒaɪənt/
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/
ten 10s
From this reading The ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.
illuminatedadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈluːməneɪtəd/
provided with artificial light
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
JustadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
keelnounUS /kiːl/
a projection or ridge that suggests a keel
From this reading The ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.
lakenounUS /leɪk/
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
levelnounUS /ˈlevəl/
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading The ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
machinerynounUS /məˈʃiːnəri/
machines or machine systems collectively
From this reading As the machinery of the _Mermaid_ was now in working order there was no further alarm because of the darkness.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
managedverbUS /ˈmænədʒd/
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
mealnounUS /miːl/
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
MermaidnounUS /ˈmɜːrmeɪd/
half woman and half fish; lives in the sea
From this reading As the machinery of the _Mermaid_ was now in working order there was no further alarm because of the darkness.
moonbeamsnounUS /ˈmuːnbiːmz/
plural of “moonbeam” — a ray of moonlight
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading As the machinery of the _Mermaid_ was now in working order there was no further alarm because of the darkness.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading As the machinery of the _Mermaid_ was now in working order there was no further alarm because of the darkness.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.
ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading As the machinery of the _Mermaid_ was now in working order there was no further alarm because of the darkness.
peachnounUS /piːtʃ/
cultivated in temperate regions
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
restedadjectiveUS /ˈrestəd/
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading The ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.
secureverbUS /sɪˈkjʊr/
get by special effort
From this reading The ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.
seeingnounUS /ˈsiːɪŋ/
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading The ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.
shipverbUS /ʃɪp/
transport commercially
From this reading The ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.
short-cake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
slicesnounUS /ˈslaɪsəz/
plural of “slice” — a share of something
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
SNAKE-TREE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
snugadjectiveUS /snʌɡ/
offering safety; well protected or concealed
From this reading The ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
suppernounUS /ˈsʌpər/
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
suppliesnounUS /səˈplaɪz/
plural of “supply” — an amount of something available for use
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading As the machinery of the _Mermaid_ was now in working order there was no further alarm because of the darkness.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though they had to forego fish for breakfast the travelers made a good meal.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
travelersnounUS /ˈtrævələrz/
plural of “traveler” — a person who changes location
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As the machinery of the _Mermaid_ was now in working order there was no further alarm because of the darkness.
WashingtonnounUS /ˈwɑːʃɪŋtən/
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading THE SNAKE-TREE They managed to make a good meal of the food supplies they had brought along, and as a dessert Washington made some peach short-cake from the slices of the giant fruit they had found the day before.
weirdadjectiveUS /wɪrd/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Just as they finished supper it got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, as the travelers called them, came up, and illuminated the lake with a weird light.
workingadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading As the machinery of the _Mermaid_ was now in working order there was no further alarm because of the darkness.
yardsnounUS /jɑːrdz/
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 ship rested on a level keel about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, the travelers went to bed.
