used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading From a narrow strip of shore that fringed a murky sea, sheer cliffs rose--black, beetling, forbidding.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
ascentnounUS /əˈsent/
an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
From this reading In one direction the rampart lost itself in the haze of a bleak horizon; in the other it merged into a rocky but sloping ascent.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
for the reason that
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
beetlingadjective
jutting or overhanging
From this reading From a narrow strip of shore that fringed a murky sea, sheer cliffs rose--black, beetling, forbidding.
begrudgeverbUS /bɪˈɡrʌdʒ/
be envious of; set one's heart on
From this reading The sea itself was of a muddy hue, reflecting feebly the rays of a sun which seemed to begrudge what little warmth it spared.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading From a narrow strip of shore that fringed a murky sea, sheer cliffs rose--black, beetling, forbidding.
bleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/
offering little or no hope
From this reading In one direction the rampart lost itself in the haze of a bleak horizon; in the other it merged into a rocky but sloping ascent.
bouldernounUS /ˈboʊldər/
a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In one direction the rampart lost itself in the haze of a bleak horizon; in the other it merged into a rocky but sloping ascent.
cliffsnounUS /klɪfs/
plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock
From this reading From a narrow strip of shore that fringed a murky sea, sheer cliffs rose--black, beetling, forbidding.
cloudlessadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdləs/
free from clouds
From this reading The sky, gray though nearly cloudless, seemed overcast with a dusty haze.
contributedverbUS /kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪd/
past form of “contribute” — bestow a quality on
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading In one direction the rampart lost itself in the haze of a bleak horizon; in the other it merged into a rocky but sloping ascent.
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading The sky, gray though nearly cloudless, seemed overcast with a dusty haze.
feeblyadverbUS /ˈfiːbli/
in a faint and feeble manner
From this reading The sea itself was of a muddy hue, reflecting feebly the rays of a sun which seemed to begrudge what little warmth it spared.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
forbiddingadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪdɪŋ/
harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance
From this reading From a narrow strip of shore that fringed a murky sea, sheer cliffs rose--black, beetling, forbidding.
friableadjective
easily broken into small fragments or reduced to powder
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
fringedadjective
surrounded as with a border or fringe; sometimes used in combination
From this reading From a narrow strip of shore that fringed a murky sea, sheer cliffs rose--black, beetling, forbidding.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From a narrow strip of shore that fringed a murky sea, sheer cliffs rose--black, beetling, forbidding.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The sky, gray though nearly cloudless, seemed overcast with a dusty haze.
grayeradjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪər/
comparative of “gray” — of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
hazenounUS /heɪz/
atmospheric moisture or dust or smoke that causes reduced visibility
From this reading In one direction the rampart lost itself in the haze of a bleak horizon; in the other it merged into a rocky but sloping ascent.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading In one direction the rampart lost itself in the haze of a bleak horizon; in the other it merged into a rocky but sloping ascent.
huenounUS /hjuː/
the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
From this reading The sea itself was of a muddy hue, reflecting feebly the rays of a sun which seemed to begrudge what little warmth it spared.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In one direction the rampart lost itself in the haze of a bleak horizon; in the other it merged into a rocky but sloping ascent.
inletnounUS /ˈɪnlet/
an arm off of a larger body of water (often between rocky headlands)
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading In one direction the rampart lost itself in the haze of a bleak horizon; in the other it merged into a rocky but sloping ascent.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In one direction the rampart lost itself in the haze of a bleak horizon; in the other it merged into a rocky but sloping ascent.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading In one direction the rampart lost itself in the haze of a bleak horizon; in the other it merged into a rocky but sloping ascent.
immediately past
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The sea itself was of a muddy hue, reflecting feebly the rays of a sun which seemed to begrudge what little warmth it spared.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading In one direction the rampart lost itself in the haze of a bleak horizon; in the other it merged into a rocky but sloping ascent.
mergedadjectiveUS /mɜːrdʒd/
formed or united into a whole
From this reading In one direction the rampart lost itself in the haze of a bleak horizon; in the other it merged into a rocky but sloping ascent.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
muddinessnoun
the wetness of ground that is covered or soaked with water
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
muddyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading The sea itself was of a muddy hue, reflecting feebly the rays of a sun which seemed to begrudge what little warmth it spared.
murkyadjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrki/
(of liquids) clouded as with sediment
From this reading From a narrow strip of shore that fringed a murky sea, sheer cliffs rose--black, beetling, forbidding.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading From a narrow strip of shore that fringed a murky sea, sheer cliffs rose--black, beetling, forbidding.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The sky, gray though nearly cloudless, seemed overcast with a dusty haze.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From a narrow strip of shore that fringed a murky sea, sheer cliffs rose--black, beetling, forbidding.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In one direction the rampart lost itself in the haze of a bleak horizon; in the other it merged into a rocky but sloping ascent.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading In one direction the rampart lost itself in the haze of a bleak horizon; in the other it merged into a rocky but sloping ascent.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
overcastnounUS /ˈoʊvərkæst/
the state of the sky when it is covered by clouds
From this reading The sky, gray though nearly cloudless, seemed overcast with a dusty haze.
promontorynoun
a natural elevation (especially a rocky one that juts out into the sea)
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
rampartnounUS /ˈræmpɑːrt/
an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
From this reading In one direction the rampart lost itself in the haze of a bleak horizon; in the other it merged into a rocky but sloping ascent.
rampartsnounUS /ˈræmpɑːrts/
plural of “rampart” — an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading The sea itself was of a muddy hue, reflecting feebly the rays of a sun which seemed to begrudge what little warmth it spared.
reflectingadjectiveUS /rɪˈflektɪŋ/
causing reflection or having a device that reflects
From this reading The sea itself was of a muddy hue, reflecting feebly the rays of a sun which seemed to begrudge what little warmth it spared.
rockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading In one direction the rampart lost itself in the haze of a bleak horizon; in the other it merged into a rocky but sloping ascent.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading From a narrow strip of shore that fringed a murky sea, sheer cliffs rose--black, beetling, forbidding.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading From a narrow strip of shore that fringed a murky sea, sheer cliffs rose--black, beetling, forbidding.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The sea itself was of a muddy hue, reflecting feebly the rays of a sun which seemed to begrudge what little warmth it spared.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading From a narrow strip of shore that fringed a murky sea, sheer cliffs rose--black, beetling, forbidding.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading From a narrow strip of shore that fringed a murky sea, sheer cliffs rose--black, beetling, forbidding.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The sky, gray though nearly cloudless, seemed overcast with a dusty haze.
slopingadjectiveUS /ˈsloʊpɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading In one direction the rampart lost itself in the haze of a bleak horizon; in the other it merged into a rocky but sloping ascent.
smoothernounUS /ˈsmuːðər/
a power tool used for sanding wood; an endless loop of sandpaper is moved at high speed by an electric motor
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
sparedverbUS /sperd/
past form of “spare” — refrain from harming
From this reading The sea itself was of a muddy hue, reflecting feebly the rays of a sun which seemed to begrudge what little warmth it spared.
stripverbUS /strɪp/
take away possessions from someone
From this reading From a narrow strip of shore that fringed a murky sea, sheer cliffs rose--black, beetling, forbidding.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sea itself was of a muddy hue, reflecting feebly the rays of a sun which seemed to begrudge what little warmth it spared.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From a narrow strip of shore that fringed a murky sea, sheer cliffs rose--black, beetling, forbidding.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In one direction the rampart lost itself in the haze of a bleak horizon; in the other it merged into a rocky but sloping ascent.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The sky, gray though nearly cloudless, seemed overcast with a dusty haze.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sea itself was of a muddy hue, reflecting feebly the rays of a sun which seemed to begrudge what little warmth it spared.
warmthnounUS /wɔːrmθ/
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading The sea itself was of a muddy hue, reflecting feebly the rays of a sun which seemed to begrudge what little warmth it spared.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sea itself was of a muddy hue, reflecting feebly the rays of a sun which seemed to begrudge what little warmth it spared.
clean by virtue of having been washed in water
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The sea itself was of a muddy hue, reflecting feebly the rays of a sun which seemed to begrudge what little warmth it spared.
in or at the place that
From this reading Where the sea washed into a narrow inlet at the foot of the last great promontory along the line of ramparts, a boulder--distinguished from others because it seemed grayer, smoother, more friable--contributed to the muddiness of the sea.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The sea itself was of a muddy hue, reflecting feebly the rays of a sun which seemed to begrudge what little warmth it spared.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The sky, gray though nearly cloudless, seemed overcast with a dusty haze.
