used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
attendantnounUS /əˈtendənt/
someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
Berar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
BritonsnounUS /ˈbrɪtənz/
plural of “briton” — a native or inhabitant of Great Britain
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/
not characterized by emotion
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
comrade's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
cowedverbUS /kaʊd/
past form of “cow” — subdue, restrain, or overcome by affecting with a feeling of awe; frighten (as with threats)
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
crampedadjectiveUS /kræmpt/
constricted in size
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
curlingnounUS /ˈkɜːrlɪŋ/
a game played on ice in which heavy stones with handles are slid toward a target
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
the first light of day
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading They were, in fact, hopelessly lost.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
glassy-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
a quick look
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
hopelesslyadverbUS /ˈhoʊpləsli/
in a hopeless manner
From this reading They were, in fact, hopelessly lost.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
huddledadjectiveUS /ˈhʌdəld/
crowded or massed together
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
ledgenounUS /ledʒ/
a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
listlesslyadverbUS /ˈlɪstləsli/
in a listless manner
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading They were, in fact, hopelessly lost.
magnifiedadjectiveUS /ˈmæɡnəfaɪd/
enlarged to an abnormal degree
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
become covered with mist
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
precipices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
PROLOGUEnounUS /ˈproʊlɑːɡ/
an introduction to a play
From this reading PROLOGUE.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
spectres
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
staturenounUS /ˈstætʃər/
high level of respect gained by impressive development or achievement
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
tumblingnounUS /ˈtʌmbəlɪŋ/
the gymnastic moves of an acrobat
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
not known
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
migratory
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In a chilly dawn, high among the mountains to the north of Berar, two Britons were wandering with an Indian attendant.
wreathsnounUS /riːθs/
plural of “wreath” — flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading They came like spectres, in curling wreaths of mist that magnified their stature; and daylight cowed each with the first glimpse of his comrade's face, yellow with hunger and glassy-eyed with lack of sleep.
but in spite of that
From this reading They had spent the night huddled together on a narrow ledge, listening hour by hour to the sound of water tumbling over unknown precipices; and now they moved with painful cramped limbs, yet listlessly, being past hope to escape or to see another dawn.
