adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The air had grown sultry, but the guards kept awake and regularly relieved one another.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading White veins of gypsum and glittering mica sparkled in the moonlight along its bare edges.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The air had grown sultry, but the guards kept awake and regularly relieved one another.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The air had grown sultry, but the guards kept awake and regularly relieved one another.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Joshua gazed intently around him.
attentionnounUS /əˈtenʃən/
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading The air had grown sultry, but the guards kept awake and regularly relieved one another.
bareadjectiveUS /ber/
completely unclothed
From this reading White veins of gypsum and glittering mica sparkled in the moonlight along its bare edges.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
blowverbUS /bloʊ/
exhale hard
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
cloudsnounUS /klaʊdz/
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
comfortnounUS /ˈkʌmfərt/
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
continuedadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːd/
without stop or interruption
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
coververbUS /ˈkʌvər/
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
difficultadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfəkəlt/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
edgesnounUS /ˈedʒəz/
plural of “edge” — the boundary of a surface
From this reading White veins of gypsum and glittering mica sparkled in the moonlight along its bare edges.
eludeverbUS /ɪˈluːd/
escape, either physically or mentally
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
Ephraim's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
gazedverbUS /ɡeɪzd/
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Joshua gazed intently around him.
gentlyadverbUS /ˈdʒentli/
in a gradual manner
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
glitteringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
From this reading White veins of gypsum and glittering mica sparkled in the moonlight along its bare edges.
greateradjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪtər/
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
grownadjectiveUS /ɡroʊn/
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading The air had grown sultry, but the guards kept awake and regularly relieved one another.
guardsnounUS /ɡɑːrdz/
plural of “guard” — a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading The air had grown sultry, but the guards kept awake and regularly relieved one another.
gypsumnounUS /ˈdʒɪpsəm/
a common white or colorless mineral (hydrated calcium sulphate) used to make cements and plasters (especially plaster of Paris)
From this reading White veins of gypsum and glittering mica sparkled in the moonlight along its bare edges.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The air had grown sultry, but the guards kept awake and regularly relieved one another.
helpedverbUS /helpt/
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
hillnounUS /hɪl/
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Joshua gazed intently around him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading White veins of gypsum and glittering mica sparkled in the moonlight along its bare edges.
intentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtentli/
with strained or eager attention
From this reading Joshua gazed intently around him.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading White veins of gypsum and glittering mica sparkled in the moonlight along its bare edges.
JoshuanounUS /ˈdʒɑːʃuːə/
(Old Testament) Moses' successor who led the Israelites into the Promised Land; best remembered for his destruction of Jericho
From this reading Joshua gazed intently around him.
keptadjectiveUS /kept/
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The air had grown sultry, but the guards kept awake and regularly relieved one another.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
micanounUS /ˈmaɪkə/
any of various minerals consisting of hydrous silicates of aluminum or potassium etc. that crystallize in forms that allow perfect cleavage into very thin leaves; used as dielectrics because of their resistance to electricity
From this reading White veins of gypsum and glittering mica sparkled in the moonlight along its bare edges.
moonlightnounUS /ˈmuːnlaɪt/
the light of the Moon
From this reading White veins of gypsum and glittering mica sparkled in the moonlight along its bare edges.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
northnounUS /nɔːrθ/
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The air had grown sultry, but the guards kept awake and regularly relieved one another.
ranverbUS /ræn/
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
ravinenounUS /rəˈviːn/
a deep narrow steep-sided valley (especially one formed by running water)
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
regularlyadverbUS /ˈreɡjələrli/
in a regular manner
From this reading The air had grown sultry, but the guards kept awake and regularly relieved one another.
relievedadjectiveUS /rɪˈliːvd/
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading The air had grown sultry, but the guards kept awake and regularly relieved one another.
risingadjectiveUS /ˈraɪzɪŋ/
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
seanounUS /siː/
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
skynounUS /skaɪ/
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
slopingadjectiveUS /ˈsloʊpɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
soonadverbUS /suːn/
in the near future
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
sparkledverbUS /ˈspɑːrkəld/
past form of “sparkle” — reflect brightly
From this reading White veins of gypsum and glittering mica sparkled in the moonlight along its bare edges.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
sultryadjectiveUS /ˈsʌltri/
sexually exciting or gratifying
From this reading The air had grown sultry, but the guards kept awake and regularly relieved one another.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
unclenounUS /ˈʌŋkəl/
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
valleynounUS /ˈvæli/
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
veinsnounUS /veɪnz/
plural of “vein” — a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart
From this reading White veins of gypsum and glittering mica sparkled in the moonlight along its bare edges.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
WhitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading White veins of gypsum and glittering mica sparkled in the moonlight along its bare edges.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The sky was still bright, but if the north wind continued to blow, the clouds which seemed to be rising from the sea must soon cover it.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading It was difficult to elude their attention; yet close by Ephraim's couch, which his uncle, for greater comfort, had helped him make on the side of a gently sloping hill, a narrow ravine ran down to the valley.
