AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading A night hawk swooped and circled above the tall “feather grass” by the margin of the creek.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The mist was drifting in over the bay and the gulls were calling sleepily from their perch along the breakwater.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading It was full tide and the miniature breakers plashed amid the seaweed on the beach.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
baynounUS /beɪ/
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading The mist was drifting in over the bay and the gulls were calling sleepily from their perch along the breakwater.
bayberrynoun
West Indian tree; source of bay rum
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
beachnounUS /biːtʃ/
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading It was full tide and the miniature breakers plashed amid the seaweed on the beach.
bluffnounUS /blʌf/
a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
breakersnounUS /ˈbreɪkərz/
waves breaking on the shore
From this reading It was full tide and the miniature breakers plashed amid the seaweed on the beach.
breakwaternounUS /ˈbreɪkwɔːtər/
a protective structure of stone or concrete; extends from shore into the water to prevent a beach from washing away
From this reading The mist was drifting in over the bay and the gulls were calling sleepily from their perch along the breakwater.
bushesnounUS /ˈbʊʃəz/
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The minister's face was pale, but set and determined, and he was speaking rapidly.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A night hawk swooped and circled above the tall “feather grass” by the margin of the creek.
CALLERnounUS /ˈkɔːlər/
a social or business visitor
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
callingnounUS /ˈkɔːlɪŋ/
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading The mist was drifting in over the bay and the gulls were calling sleepily from their perch along the breakwater.
CAPTAINnounUS /ˈkæptən/
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
circledverbUS /ˈsɜːrkəld/
past form of “circle” — travel around something
From this reading A night hawk swooped and circled above the tall “feather grass” by the margin of the creek.
creeknounUS /kriːk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading A night hawk swooped and circled above the tall “feather grass” by the margin of the creek.
crookedadjectiveUS /ˈkrʊkəd/
having or marked by bends or angles; not straight or aligned
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜːrmənd/
characterized by great determination
From this reading The minister's face was pale, but set and determined, and he was speaking rapidly.
dippedadjectiveUS /dɪpt/
having abnormal sagging of the spine (especially in horses)
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading The mist was drifting in over the bay and the gulls were calling sleepily from their perch along the breakwater.
EBEN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
edgenounUS /edʒ/
the boundary of a surface
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
Ellery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The minister's face was pale, but set and determined, and he was speaking rapidly.
featherverbUS /ˈfeðər/
join tongue and groove, in carpentry
From this reading A night hawk swooped and circled above the tall “feather grass” by the margin of the creek.
footpathnounUS /ˈfʊtpæθ/
a trodden path
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The mist was drifting in over the bay and the gulls were calling sleepily from their perch along the breakwater.
fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading It was full tide and the miniature breakers plashed amid the seaweed on the beach.
GracenounUS /ɡreɪs/
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
grassverbUS /ɡræs/
shoot down, of birds
From this reading A night hawk swooped and circled above the tall “feather grass” by the margin of the creek.
gullsnounUS /ɡʌlz/
plural of “gull” — a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
From this reading The mist was drifting in over the bay and the gulls were calling sleepily from their perch along the breakwater.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
haltedverbUS /ˈhɔːltəd/
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
hawknounUS /hɔːk/
diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
From this reading A night hawk swooped and circled above the tall “feather grass” by the margin of the creek.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The minister's face was pale, but set and determined, and he was speaking rapidly.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was full tide and the miniature breakers plashed amid the seaweed on the beach.
JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
landnounUS /lænd/
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
marginnounUS /ˈmɑːrdʒən/
the boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary
From this reading A night hawk swooped and circled above the tall “feather grass” by the margin of the creek.
meadownounUS /ˈmedoʊ/
a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
miniaturenounUS /ˈmɪniətʃʊr/
painting or drawing included in a book (especially in illuminated medieval manuscripts)
From this reading It was full tide and the miniature breakers plashed amid the seaweed on the beach.
minister'snounUS /ˈmɪnɪstərz/
possessive form of “minister” — a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading The minister's face was pale, but set and determined, and he was speaking rapidly.
mistverbUS /mɪst/
become covered with mist
From this reading The mist was drifting in over the bay and the gulls were calling sleepily from their perch along the breakwater.
narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A night hawk swooped and circled above the tall “feather grass” by the margin of the creek.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was full tide and the miniature breakers plashed amid the seaweed on the beach.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
paleadjectiveUS /peɪl/
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading The minister's face was pale, but set and determined, and he was speaking rapidly.
pasturenounUS /ˈpæstʃər/
a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
perchnounUS /pɜːrtʃ/
support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird)
From this reading The mist was drifting in over the bay and the gulls were calling sleepily from their perch along the breakwater.
pinesnounUS /paɪnz/
plural of “pine” — a coniferous tree
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
plashed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was full tide and the miniature breakers plashed amid the seaweed on the beach.
rapidlyadverbUS /ˈræpədli/
with speed
From this reading The minister's face was pale, but set and determined, and he was speaking rapidly.
RECEIVESverbUS /rəˈsiːvz/
third-person singular of “receive” — get something; come into possession of
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
riseverbUS /raɪz/
move upward
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
saltnounUS /sɔːlt/
a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
seaweednounUS /ˈsiːwiːd/
plant growing in the sea, especially marine algae
From this reading It was full tide and the miniature breakers plashed amid the seaweed on the beach.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The minister's face was pale, but set and determined, and he was speaking rapidly.
sleepilyadverbUS /ˈsliːpəli/
in a sleepy manner
From this reading The mist was drifting in over the bay and the gulls were calling sleepily from their perch along the breakwater.
speakingnounUS /ˈspiːkɪŋ/
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading The minister's face was pale, but set and determined, and he was speaking rapidly.
swoopedverbUS /swuːpt/
past form of “swoop” — move down on as if in an attack
From this reading A night hawk swooped and circled above the tall “feather grass” by the margin of the creek.
talladjectiveUS /tɔːl/
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading A night hawk swooped and circled above the tall “feather grass” by the margin of the creek.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
thickestadjectiveUS /ˈθɪkɪst/
superlative of “thick” — not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
tidenounUS /taɪd/
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading It was full tide and the miniature breakers plashed amid the seaweed on the beach.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
walknounUS /wɔːk/
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was full tide and the miniature breakers plashed amid the seaweed on the beach.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
WHICHpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH CAPTAIN EBEN RECEIVES A CALLER At the edge of the bluff, just where the pines and the bayberry bushes were thickest, where the narrow, crooked little footpath dipped over the rise and down to the pasture land and the salt meadow, John Ellery and Grace had halted in their walk.
