used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading An hour passed and still two dark spots, like markers for a gill net, rose above the waves.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading An hour passed and still two dark spots, like markers for a gill net, rose above the waves.
anew
From this reading When their weary muscles had gained renewed strength, they began their task again.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An hour passed and still two dark spots, like markers for a gill net, rose above the waves.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An hour passed and still two dark spots, like markers for a gill net, rose above the waves.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At times the weary girls turned on their backs to float like so much lifeless driftwood.
backsnounUS /bæks/
plural of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
From this reading At times the weary girls turned on their backs to float like so much lifeless driftwood.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading When their weary muscles had gained renewed strength, they began their task again.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The moon, rising higher and higher, brought out more distinctly the ragged tree line of Goose Island.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading An hour passed and still two dark spots, like markers for a gill net, rose above the waves.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading The moon, rising higher and higher, brought out more distinctly the ragged tree line of Goose Island.
driftwoodnounUS /ˈdrɪftwʊd/
wood that is floating or that has been washed ashore
From this reading At times the weary girls turned on their backs to float like so much lifeless driftwood.
floatverbUS /floʊt/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading At times the weary girls turned on their backs to float like so much lifeless driftwood.
FlorencenounUS /ˈflɔːrəns/
a city in central Italy on the Arno; provincial capital of Tuscany; center of the Italian Renaissance from 14th to 16th centuries
From this reading There were times when Florence, stout-hearted though she was, was tempted to give up hope.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading An hour passed and still two dark spots, like markers for a gill net, rose above the waves.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading When their weary muscles had gained renewed strength, they began their task again.
gillnounUS /ɡɪl/
a British imperial capacity unit (liquid or dry) equal to 5 fluid ounces or 142.066 cubic centimeters
From this reading An hour passed and still two dark spots, like markers for a gill net, rose above the waves.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading At times the weary girls turned on their backs to float like so much lifeless driftwood.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading There were times when Florence, stout-hearted though she was, was tempted to give up hope.
GoosenounUS /ɡuːs/
web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
From this reading The moon, rising higher and higher, brought out more distinctly the ragged tree line of Goose Island.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When their weary muscles had gained renewed strength, they began their task again.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading The moon, rising higher and higher, brought out more distinctly the ragged tree line of Goose Island.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading There were times when Florence, stout-hearted though she was, was tempted to give up hope.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading An hour passed and still two dark spots, like markers for a gill net, rose above the waves.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading The moon, rising higher and higher, brought out more distinctly the ragged tree line of Goose Island.
lifelessadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪfləs/
deprived of life; no longer living
From this reading At times the weary girls turned on their backs to float like so much lifeless driftwood.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading An hour passed and still two dark spots, like markers for a gill net, rose above the waves.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading The moon, rising higher and higher, brought out more distinctly the ragged tree line of Goose Island.
markersnounUS /ˈmɑːrkərz/
plural of “marker” — some conspicuous object used to distinguish or mark something
From this reading An hour passed and still two dark spots, like markers for a gill net, rose above the waves.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The moon, rising higher and higher, brought out more distinctly the ragged tree line of Goose Island.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The moon, rising higher and higher, brought out more distinctly the ragged tree line of Goose Island.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading At times the weary girls turned on their backs to float like so much lifeless driftwood.
musclesnounUS /ˈmʌsəlz/
plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading When their weary muscles had gained renewed strength, they began their task again.
netnounUS /net/
a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange
From this reading An hour passed and still two dark spots, like markers for a gill net, rose above the waves.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The moon, rising higher and higher, brought out more distinctly the ragged tree line of Goose Island.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At times the weary girls turned on their backs to float like so much lifeless driftwood.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The moon, rising higher and higher, brought out more distinctly the ragged tree line of Goose Island.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading An hour passed and still two dark spots, like markers for a gill net, rose above the waves.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading The moon, rising higher and higher, brought out more distinctly the ragged tree line of Goose Island.
renewedadjectiveUS /rɪˈnuːd/
restored to a new condition
From this reading When their weary muscles had gained renewed strength, they began their task again.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading The moon, rising higher and higher, brought out more distinctly the ragged tree line of Goose Island.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading An hour passed and still two dark spots, like markers for a gill net, rose above the waves.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were times when Florence, stout-hearted though she was, was tempted to give up hope.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading At times the weary girls turned on their backs to float like so much lifeless driftwood.
spotsnounUS /spɑːts/
spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens
From this reading An hour passed and still two dark spots, like markers for a gill net, rose above the waves.
not in physical motion
From this reading An hour passed and still two dark spots, like markers for a gill net, rose above the waves.
stout-hearted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when Florence, stout-hearted though she was, was tempted to give up hope.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading When their weary muscles had gained renewed strength, they began their task again.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading When their weary muscles had gained renewed strength, they began their task again.
temptedverbUS /ˈtemptɪd/
past form of “tempt” — dispose or incline or entice to
From this reading There were times when Florence, stout-hearted though she was, was tempted to give up hope.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An hour passed and still two dark spots, like markers for a gill net, rose above the waves.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading At times the weary girls turned on their backs to float like so much lifeless driftwood.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were times when Florence, stout-hearted though she was, was tempted to give up hope.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When their weary muscles had gained renewed strength, they began their task again.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading There were times when Florence, stout-hearted though she was, was tempted to give up hope.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading At times the weary girls turned on their backs to float like so much lifeless driftwood.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At times the weary girls turned on their backs to float like so much lifeless driftwood.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The moon, rising higher and higher, brought out more distinctly the ragged tree line of Goose Island.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading At times the weary girls turned on their backs to float like so much lifeless driftwood.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading An hour passed and still two dark spots, like markers for a gill net, rose above the waves.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading There were times when Florence, stout-hearted though she was, was tempted to give up hope.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There were times when Florence, stout-hearted though she was, was tempted to give up hope.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading An hour passed and still two dark spots, like markers for a gill net, rose above the waves.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading At times the weary girls turned on their backs to float like so much lifeless driftwood.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were times when Florence, stout-hearted though she was, was tempted to give up hope.
at the time that
From this reading When their weary muscles had gained renewed strength, they began their task again.
