used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
a youthful male person
From this reading Clinging by roots and creepers, sliding from one grass tuft to the next, the boy went swiftly down.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Clinging by roots and creepers, sliding from one grass tuft to the next, the boy went swiftly down.
cabinsnounUS /ˈkæbənz/
plural of “cabin” — small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
ClingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading Clinging by roots and creepers, sliding from one grass tuft to the next, the boy went swiftly down.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
clumpnounUS /klʌmp/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
creepers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clinging by roots and creepers, sliding from one grass tuft to the next, the boy went swiftly down.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Clinging by roots and creepers, sliding from one grass tuft to the next, the boy went swiftly down.
evil-lookingadjective
having an evil appearance
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
apart from; not including
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
flatboatnounUS /ˈflætboʊt/
a flatbottom boat for carrying heavy loads (especially on canals)
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading At the foot of the steep slope was a narrow marshy tract hemmed in by the levee.
footway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
freightnounUS /freɪt/
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Clinging by roots and creepers, sliding from one grass tuft to the next, the boy went swiftly down.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Clinging by roots and creepers, sliding from one grass tuft to the next, the boy went swiftly down.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
hemmedverbUS /hemd/
inflected form of “hem” — fold over and sew together to provide with a hem
From this reading At the foot of the steep slope was a narrow marshy tract hemmed in by the levee.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
huddledadjectiveUS /ˈhʌdəld/
crowded or massed together
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At the foot of the steep slope was a narrow marshy tract hemmed in by the levee.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
Katy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
leveenounUS /ˈlevi/
a formal reception of visitors or guests (as at a royal court)
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
marshyadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːrʃi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading At the foot of the steep slope was a narrow marshy tract hemmed in by the levee.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
mooringsnounUS /ˈmuːrɪŋz/
plural of “mooring” — a place where a craft can be made fast
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
mossyadjectiveUS /ˈmɔːsi/
overgrown with moss
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading At the foot of the steep slope was a narrow marshy tract hemmed in by the levee.
Natchez-under-the-Hill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
negroesnounUS /ˈniːɡroʊz/
plural of “negro” — a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Clinging by roots and creepers, sliding from one grass tuft to the next, the boy went swiftly down.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
northwardadverbUS /ˈnɔːrθwərd/
in a northern direction
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
oaksnounUS /oʊks/
plural of “oak” — the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Clinging by roots and creepers, sliding from one grass tuft to the next, the boy went swiftly down.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
pathsnounUS /pæðz/
plural of “path” — a course of conduct
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
select carefully from a group
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
poolsnounUS /puːlz/
plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
Roby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
rootsnounUS /ruːts/
the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage
From this reading Clinging by roots and creepers, sliding from one grass tuft to the next, the boy went swiftly down.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
shantiesnounUS /ˈʃæntiz/
plural of “shanty” — small crude shelter used as a dwelling
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
slidingadjectiveUS /ˈslaɪdɪŋ/
being a smooth continuous motion
From this reading Clinging by roots and creepers, sliding from one grass tuft to the next, the boy went swiftly down.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading At the foot of the steep slope was a narrow marshy tract hemmed in by the levee.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
steamboatnounUS /ˈstiːmboʊt/
a boat propelled by a steam engine
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
having a sharp inclination
From this reading At the foot of the steep slope was a narrow marshy tract hemmed in by the levee.
swarmingverbUS /ˈswɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
in a swift manner
From this reading Clinging by roots and creepers, sliding from one grass tuft to the next, the boy went swiftly down.
TadnounUS /tæd/
a slight amount or degree of difference
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As he descended, Tad could see the levee, below, and half a mile to the northward the huddled houses of Natchez-under-the-Hill.
the upper part of anything
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
tractnounUS /trækt/
an extended area of land
From this reading At the foot of the steep slope was a narrow marshy tract hemmed in by the levee.
tuftnounUS /tʌft/
a bunch of hair or feathers or growing grass
From this reading Clinging by roots and creepers, sliding from one grass tuft to the next, the boy went swiftly down.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
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 There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Clinging by roots and creepers, sliding from one grass tuft to the next, the boy went swiftly down.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was no road except the footway along the levee top, but a few shanties were scattered here and there--the cabins of free negroes, Tad thought--and among the evil-looking pools of green water, paths ran from one clump of great mossy live oaks to the next.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was the big steamboat landing, piled with freight, and beyond it the swarming flatboat fleet, so close, now, that he almost fancied he could pick out the little _Katy Roby_ at her moorings.
