used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The ice covering had given way, exposing a muddy marsh, up from which a terrible stench was rising.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading This creature had probably stepped into the marsh centuries before, and sinking into the mire, was buried alive.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading It was the animal which Vaneyke was hunting for.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading This creature had probably stepped into the marsh centuries before, and sinking into the mire, was buried alive.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
placed in a grave
From this reading The smell came from the rotting carcase of a huge mammoth lying buried in the mud.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The smell came from the rotting carcase of a huge mammoth lying buried in the mud.
carcasenoun
the dead body of an animal especially one slaughtered and dressed for food
From this reading The smell came from the rotting carcase of a huge mammoth lying buried in the mud.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
centuriesnounUS /ˈsentʃəriz/
plural of “century” — a period of 100 years
From this reading This creature had probably stepped into the marsh centuries before, and sinking into the mire, was buried alive.
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading The ice covering had given way, exposing a muddy marsh, up from which a terrible stench was rising.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading This creature had probably stepped into the marsh centuries before, and sinking into the mire, was buried alive.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
exposingverbUS /ɪkˈspoʊzɪŋ/
-ing form of “expose” — expose or make accessible to some action or influence
From this reading The ice covering had given way, exposing a muddy marsh, up from which a terrible stench was rising.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was the animal which Vaneyke was hunting for.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The ice covering had given way, exposing a muddy marsh, up from which a terrible stench was rising.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading The ice covering had given way, exposing a muddy marsh, up from which a terrible stench was rising.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The ice covering had given way, exposing a muddy marsh, up from which a terrible stench was rising.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The smell came from the rotting carcase of a huge mammoth lying buried in the mud.
the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport
From this reading It was the animal which Vaneyke was hunting for.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading The ice covering had given way, exposing a muddy marsh, up from which a terrible stench was rising.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading This creature had probably stepped into the marsh centuries before, and sinking into the mire, was buried alive.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
the act of departing
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading The smell came from the rotting carcase of a huge mammoth lying buried in the mud.
mammothadjectiveUS /ˈmæməθ/
so exceedingly large or extensive as to suggest a giant or mammoth
From this reading The smell came from the rotting carcase of a huge mammoth lying buried in the mud.
marshnounUS /mɑːrʃ/
low-lying wet land with grassy vegetation; usually is a transition zone between land and water
From this reading The ice covering had given way, exposing a muddy marsh, up from which a terrible stench was rising.
mirenounUS /maɪr/
a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
From this reading This creature had probably stepped into the marsh centuries before, and sinking into the mire, was buried alive.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading The smell came from the rotting carcase of a huge mammoth lying buried in the mud.
muddyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading The ice covering had given way, exposing a muddy marsh, up from which a terrible stench was rising.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading This creature had probably stepped into the marsh centuries before, and sinking into the mire, was buried alive.
professor'snounUS /prəˈfesərz/
possessive form of “professor” — someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading The ice covering had given way, exposing a muddy marsh, up from which a terrible stench was rising.
rottingnounUS /ˈrɑːtɪŋ/
(biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action
From this reading The smell came from the rotting carcase of a huge mammoth lying buried in the mud.
done under pressure
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
cut with a saw
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading The smell came from the rotting carcase of a huge mammoth lying buried in the mud.
stenchnounUS /stentʃ/
a distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant
From this reading The ice covering had given way, exposing a muddy marsh, up from which a terrible stench was rising.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading This creature had probably stepped into the marsh centuries before, and sinking into the mire, was buried alive.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The ice covering had given way, exposing a muddy marsh, up from which a terrible stench was rising.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This creature had probably stepped into the marsh centuries before, and sinking into the mire, was buried alive.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The ice covering had given way, exposing a muddy marsh, up from which a terrible stench was rising.
Vaneyke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the animal which Vaneyke was hunting for.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The ice covering had given way, exposing a muddy marsh, up from which a terrible stench was rising.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading Leaving the boat in the professor’s care, Frank rushed out on deck, and peering over at the ground, he saw that it was sinking down beneath the weight of the boat.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The ice covering had given way, exposing a muddy marsh, up from which a terrible stench was rising.
