used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Ian traveled toward a pass through the Pyrenees.
(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 It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Behind those weeks lay the voyage to Lisbon, and from Lisbon in a second boat north to Vigo.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind him stretched difficult, hazardous, slow travel--weeks of it.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Behind those weeks lay the voyage to Lisbon, and from Lisbon in a second boat north to Vigo.
brawlingverbUS /ˈbrɔːlɪŋ/
-ing form of “brawl” — to quarrel noisily, angrily or disruptively
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Behind him stretched difficult, hazardous, slow travel--weeks of it.
plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
dissolveverbUS /dɪˈzɑːlv/
become weaker
From this reading It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
dwellingsnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋz/
plural of “dwelling” — housing that someone is living in
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
people in general (often used in the plural)
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
forestedadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrəstəd/
covered with forest
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Behind those weeks lay the voyage to Lisbon, and from Lisbon in a second boat north to Vigo.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
hazardousadjectiveUS /ˈhæzərdəs/
involving risk or danger
From this reading Behind him stretched difficult, hazardous, slow travel--weeks of it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Behind him stretched difficult, hazardous, slow travel--weeks of it.
Ian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ian traveled toward a pass through the Pyrenees.
impoverishedadjectiveUS /ɪmˈpɒv.ər.ɪʃt/
Reduced to poverty; having very little money or resources.
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Behind those weeks lay the voyage to Lisbon, and from Lisbon in a second boat north to Vigo.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Behind him stretched difficult, hazardous, slow travel--weeks of it.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Behind those weeks lay the voyage to Lisbon, and from Lisbon in a second boat north to Vigo.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
LisbonnounUS /ˈlɪzbən/
capital and largest city and economic and cultural center of Portugal; a major port in western Portugal on Tagus River where it broadens and empties into the Atlantic
From this reading Behind those weeks lay the voyage to Lisbon, and from Lisbon in a second boat north to Vigo.
engage in
From this reading It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Behind those weeks lay the voyage to Lisbon, and from Lisbon in a second boat north to Vigo.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Behind him stretched difficult, hazardous, slow travel--weeks of it.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
go across or through
From this reading Ian traveled toward a pass through the Pyrenees.
pebblesnounUS /ˈpebəlz/
plural of “pebble” — a small smooth rounded rock
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
primitiveadjectiveUS /ˈprɪmətɪv/
belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
PyreneesnounUS /ˈpɪrəiz/
a chain of mountains between France and Spain
From this reading Ian traveled toward a pass through the Pyrenees.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
ruderadjectiveUS /ˈruːdər/
comparative of “rude” — socially incorrect in behavior
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Behind those weeks lay the voyage to Lisbon, and from Lisbon in a second boat north to Vigo.
slopesnounUS /sloʊps/
plural of “slope” — an elevated geological formation
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading Behind him stretched difficult, hazardous, slow travel--weeks of it.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
SpainnounUS /speɪn/
a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power
From this reading It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
streamsnounUS /striːmz/
plural of “stream” — a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Behind him stretched difficult, hazardous, slow travel--weeks of it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Ian traveled toward a pass through the Pyrenees.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Behind those weeks lay the voyage to Lisbon, and from Lisbon in a second boat north to Vigo.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Ian traveled toward a pass through the Pyrenees.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Behind those weeks lay the voyage to Lisbon, and from Lisbon in a second boat north to Vigo.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Ian traveled toward a pass through the Pyrenees.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Behind him stretched difficult, hazardous, slow travel--weeks of it.
traveledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
traveled over or through; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading Ian traveled toward a pass through the Pyrenees.
Vigo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind those weeks lay the voyage to Lisbon, and from Lisbon in a second boat north to Vigo.
an act of traveling by water
From this reading Behind those weeks lay the voyage to Lisbon, and from Lisbon in a second boat north to Vigo.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Behind him stretched difficult, hazardous, slow travel--weeks of it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
in or at the place that
From this reading It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading It took will and wit at strain to dissolve them all, and so make way out of Spain into France--through France--to Paris, where were friends.
worseningnounUS /ˈwɜːrsənɪŋ/
process of changing to an inferior state
From this reading From Vigo to this day of forested slopes and brawling streams, steadily worsening road, ruder dwellings, more primitive, impoverished folk, rolled a time of difficulties small and great, like the mountain pebbles for number.
