used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
ADRIFTadjectiveUS /əˈdrɪft/
aimlessly drifting
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Even upon the ocean there is always the chance of being picked up by a passing vessel.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Here a man is but a thing of naught, an insect creeping upon the ground, a mere speck, the veritable plaything of chance.
appallingnounUS /əˈpɔːlɪŋ/
an experience that appalls
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Even upon the ocean there is always the chance of being picked up by a passing vessel.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But lost in the wilderness! hidden from view, what hope can the stoutest heart entertain of rescue?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Even upon the ocean there is always the chance of being picked up by a passing vessel.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading But lost in the wilderness! hidden from view, what hope can the stoutest heart entertain of rescue?
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Even upon the ocean there is always the chance of being picked up by a passing vessel.
creepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading Here a man is but a thing of naught, an insect creeping upon the ground, a mere speck, the veritable plaything of chance.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading Reynolds, however, was well hardened to desperate situations.
entertainverbUS /ˌentərˈteɪn/
provide entertainment for
From this reading But lost in the wilderness! hidden from view, what hope can the stoutest heart entertain of rescue?
divisible by two
From this reading Even upon the ocean there is always the chance of being picked up by a passing vessel.
apart from; not including
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But lost in the wilderness! hidden from view, what hope can the stoutest heart entertain of rescue?
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Here a man is but a thing of naught, an insect creeping upon the ground, a mere speck, the veritable plaything of chance.
hardenedadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdənd/
used of persons; emotionally hardened
From this reading Reynolds, however, was well hardened to desperate situations.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading But lost in the wilderness! hidden from view, what hope can the stoutest heart entertain of rescue?
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here a man is but a thing of naught, an insect creeping upon the ground, a mere speck, the veritable plaything of chance.
not accessible to view
From this reading But lost in the wilderness! hidden from view, what hope can the stoutest heart entertain of rescue?
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading But lost in the wilderness! hidden from view, what hope can the stoutest heart entertain of rescue?
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Reynolds, however, was well hardened to desperate situations.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
insectnounUS /ˈɪnsekt/
small air-breathing arthropod
From this reading Here a man is but a thing of naught, an insect creeping upon the ground, a mere speck, the veritable plaything of chance.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
labyrinthineadjectiveUS /ˌlæbərˈɪnθiːn/
relating to or affecting or originating in the inner ear
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
lonelinessnounUS /ˈloʊnlinəs/
the state of being alone in solitary isolation
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Here a man is but a thing of naught, an insect creeping upon the ground, a mere speck, the veritable plaything of chance.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading Here a man is but a thing of naught, an insect creeping upon the ground, a mere speck, the veritable plaything of chance.
mid-ocean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
naughtnounUS /nɔːt/
a quantity of no importance
From this reading Here a man is but a thing of naught, an insect creeping upon the ground, a mere speck, the veritable plaything of chance.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
NowherenounUS /ˈnoʊwer/
an insignificant place
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading Even upon the ocean there is always the chance of being picked up by a passing vessel.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading Even upon the ocean there is always the chance of being picked up by a passing vessel.
by chance
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading Even upon the ocean there is always the chance of being picked up by a passing vessel.
playthingnounUS /ˈpleɪθɪŋ/
an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading Here a man is but a thing of naught, an insect creeping upon the ground, a mere speck, the veritable plaything of chance.
rescueverbUS /ˈreskjuː/
free from harm or evil
From this reading But lost in the wilderness! hidden from view, what hope can the stoutest heart entertain of rescue?
ReynoldsnounUS /ˈrenəldz/
English portrait painter and first president of the Royal Academy (1723-1792)
From this reading Reynolds, however, was well hardened to desperate situations.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
situationsnounUS /ˌsɪtʃuːˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “situation” — the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading Reynolds, however, was well hardened to desperate situations.
specknounUS /spek/
a very small spot
From this reading Here a man is but a thing of naught, an insect creeping upon the ground, a mere speck, the veritable plaything of chance.
stoutest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But lost in the wilderness! hidden from view, what hope can the stoutest heart entertain of rescue?
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Even upon the ocean there is always the chance of being picked up by a passing vessel.
a special situation
From this reading Here a man is but a thing of naught, an insect creeping upon the ground, a mere speck, the veritable plaything of chance.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Even upon the ocean there is always the chance of being picked up by a passing vessel.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Even upon the ocean there is always the chance of being picked up by a passing vessel.
veritableadjectiveUS /ˈverɪtəbəl/
often used as intensifiers
From this reading Here a man is but a thing of naught, an insect creeping upon the ground, a mere speck, the veritable plaything of chance.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading Even upon the ocean there is always the chance of being picked up by a passing vessel.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading But lost in the wilderness! hidden from view, what hope can the stoutest heart entertain of rescue?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Reynolds, however, was well hardened to desperate situations.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Reynolds, however, was well hardened to desperate situations.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But lost in the wilderness! hidden from view, what hope can the stoutest heart entertain of rescue?
WILDERNESSnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading ADRIFT IN THE WILDERNESS Nowhere, perhaps, except adrift in mid-ocean, is the sense of loneliness more appalling than to be lost in a labyrinthine forest of the mighty north.
