used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Again and again he tapped the solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the second day lightened the gulch, the response came.
anew
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
(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 needed all the man's strength to wrest it thence, and, grasping it securely, he carefully descended, for the last time, the precipitous wall.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Again and again he tapped the solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the second day lightened the gulch, the response came.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The staff forsook his hand, as it had been a creature of volition, and stood upright upon a smooth-faced bowlder.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
bowldernoun
a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin
From this reading The staff forsook his hand, as it had been a creature of volition, and stood upright upon a smooth-faced bowlder.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading It needed all the man's strength to wrest it thence, and, grasping it securely, he carefully descended, for the last time, the precipitous wall.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The staff forsook his hand, as it had been a creature of volition, and stood upright upon a smooth-faced bowlder.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Again and again he tapped the solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the second day lightened the gulch, the response came.
DELIVERANCEnounUS /dɪˈlɪvərəns/
recovery or preservation from loss or danger
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Again and again he tapped the solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the second day lightened the gulch, the response came.
fednounUS /fed/
any federal law-enforcement officer
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
flumenounUS /fluːm/
a narrow gorge with a stream running through it
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
forsookverbUS /fɔːrˈsʊk/
inflected form of “forsake” — leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading The staff forsook his hand, as it had been a creature of volition, and stood upright upon a smooth-faced bowlder.
set up or found
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
fruitlessadjectiveUS /ˈfruːtləs/
unproductive of success
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
goalnounUS /ɡoʊl/
the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
graspingnounUS /ˈɡræspɪŋ/
understanding with difficulty
From this reading It needed all the man's strength to wrest it thence, and, grasping it securely, he carefully descended, for the last time, the precipitous wall.
gulchnounUS /ɡʌltʃ/
a narrow gorge with a stream running through it
From this reading Again and again he tapped the solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the second day lightened the gulch, the response came.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The staff forsook his hand, as it had been a creature of volition, and stood upright upon a smooth-faced bowlder.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
hungernounUS /ˈhʌŋɡər/
a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Again and again he tapped the solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the second day lightened the gulch, the response came.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
immediately past
From this reading It needed all the man's strength to wrest it thence, and, grasping it securely, he carefully descended, for the last time, the precipitous wall.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
lightenedverbUS /ˈlaɪtənd/
past form of “lighten” — make more cheerful
From this reading Again and again he tapped the solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the second day lightened the gulch, the response came.
magicaladjectiveUS /ˈmædʒɪkəl/
possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers
From this reading Again and again he tapped the solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the second day lightened the gulch, the response came.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It needed all the man's strength to wrest it thence, and, grasping it securely, he carefully descended, for the last time, the precipitous wall.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading It needed all the man's strength to wrest it thence, and, grasping it securely, he carefully descended, for the last time, the precipitous wall.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Again and again he tapped the solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the second day lightened the gulch, the response came.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
on one occasion
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Again and again he tapped the solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the second day lightened the gulch, the response came.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
plumsnounUS /plʌmz/
plural of “plum” — any of several trees producing edible oval fruit having a smooth skin and a single hard stone
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
precipitousadjectiveUS /prɪˈsɪpɪtəs/
done with very great haste and without due deliberation
From this reading It needed all the man's strength to wrest it thence, and, grasping it securely, he carefully descended, for the last time, the precipitous wall.
reclimbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
responsenounUS /rɪˈspɑːns/
a result
From this reading Again and again he tapped the solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the second day lightened the gulch, the response came.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Again and again he tapped the solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the second day lightened the gulch, the response came.
rockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
rodnounUS /rɑːd/
a long thin implement made of metal or wood
From this reading Again and again he tapped the solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the second day lightened the gulch, the response came.
scantadjectiveUS /skænt/
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
From this reading Again and again he tapped the solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the second day lightened the gulch, the response came.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
securelyadverbUS /sɪˈkjʊrli/
in a secure manner; in a manner free from danger
From this reading It needed all the man's strength to wrest it thence, and, grasping it securely, he carefully descended, for the last time, the precipitous wall.
slakeverb
satisfy
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
smooth-facedadjective
lacking hair on the face
From this reading The staff forsook his hand, as it had been a creature of volition, and stood upright upon a smooth-faced bowlder.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading Again and again he tapped the solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the second day lightened the gulch, the response came.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
staffnounUS /stæf/
personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading The staff forsook his hand, as it had been a creature of volition, and stood upright upon a smooth-faced bowlder.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The staff forsook his hand, as it had been a creature of volition, and stood upright upon a smooth-faced bowlder.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading It needed all the man's strength to wrest it thence, and, grasping it securely, he carefully descended, for the last time, the precipitous wall.
tappedadjectiveUS /tæpt/
in a condition for letting out liquid drawn out as by piercing or drawing a plug
From this reading Again and again he tapped the solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the second day lightened the gulch, the response came.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Again and again he tapped the solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the second day lightened the gulch, the response came.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
thenceadverbUS /ðens/
from that place or that time
From this reading It needed all the man's strength to wrest it thence, and, grasping it securely, he carefully descended, for the last time, the precipitous wall.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
thirstnounUS /θɜːrst/
a physiological need to drink
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It needed all the man's strength to wrest it thence, and, grasping it securely, he carefully descended, for the last time, the precipitous wall.
tipnounUS /tɪp/
the extreme end of something; especially something pointed
From this reading Again and again he tapped the solid rock or the scant earth about it for a response to that magical tip upon his rod; and now, as the second day lightened the gulch, the response came.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
twenty-fouradjectiveUS /ˈtwentifɔːr/
being four more than twenty
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading The staff forsook his hand, as it had been a creature of volition, and stood upright upon a smooth-faced bowlder.
volitionnounUS /voʊˈlɪʃən/
the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention
From this reading The staff forsook his hand, as it had been a creature of volition, and stood upright upon a smooth-faced bowlder.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading DELIVERANCE A second night of fruitless search upon the rocky wall passed before the old Indian came to the spot which he had thought so near, full twenty-four hours before.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading He had fed his hunger upon the few wild plums he had found, and more than once he had descended to the flume to slake his thirst; then reclimbed the height again, for there he knew lay the road of his goal.
wrestverbUS /rest/
obtain by seizing forcibly or violently, also metaphorically
From this reading It needed all the man's strength to wrest it thence, and, grasping it securely, he carefully descended, for the last time, the precipitous wall.
