used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading I touched the man lying next me, unable to tell one dark form from another.
attainedadjectiveUS /əˈteɪnd/
achieved or reached
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I felt of the face of my watch, deciding the time to be not far from half-past twelve.
buildingsnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋz/
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading I touched the man lying next me, unable to tell one dark form from another.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Our tramp had seemed longer than a trifle over three hours, and it was a relief to know we still had so much of darkness left in which to operate.
decidingnounUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪŋ/
the cognitive process of reaching a decision
From this reading I felt of the face of my watch, deciding the time to be not far from half-past twelve.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
opinion or judgment
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading I felt of the face of my watch, deciding the time to be not far from half-past twelve.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading I felt of the face of my watch, deciding the time to be not far from half-past twelve.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading I felt of the face of my watch, deciding the time to be not far from half-past twelve.
footpathnounUS /ˈfʊtpæθ/
a trodden path
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading I touched the man lying next me, unable to tell one dark form from another.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I felt of the face of my watch, deciding the time to be not far from half-past twelve.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
gullynounUS /ˈɡʌli/
deep ditch cut by running water (especially after a prolonged downpour)
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Our tramp had seemed longer than a trifle over three hours, and it was a relief to know we still had so much of darkness left in which to operate.
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt of the face of my watch, deciding the time to be not far from half-past twelve.
only a very short time before
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Our tramp had seemed longer than a trifle over three hours, and it was a relief to know we still had so much of darkness left in which to operate.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I felt of the face of my watch, deciding the time to be not far from half-past twelve.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Our tramp had seemed longer than a trifle over three hours, and it was a relief to know we still had so much of darkness left in which to operate.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Our tramp had seemed longer than a trifle over three hours, and it was a relief to know we still had so much of darkness left in which to operate.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Our tramp had seemed longer than a trifle over three hours, and it was a relief to know we still had so much of darkness left in which to operate.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
for more time
From this reading Our tramp had seemed longer than a trifle over three hours, and it was a relief to know we still had so much of darkness left in which to operate.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading I touched the man lying next me, unable to tell one dark form from another.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading I touched the man lying next me, unable to tell one dark form from another.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I touched the man lying next me, unable to tell one dark form from another.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Our tramp had seemed longer than a trifle over three hours, and it was a relief to know we still had so much of darkness left in which to operate.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I felt of the face of my watch, deciding the time to be not far from half-past twelve.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading I touched the man lying next me, unable to tell one dark form from another.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I felt of the face of my watch, deciding the time to be not far from half-past twelve.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I touched the man lying next me, unable to tell one dark form from another.
operateverbUS /ˈɑːpəreɪt/
direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.
From this reading Our tramp had seemed longer than a trifle over three hours, and it was a relief to know we still had so much of darkness left in which to operate.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our tramp had seemed longer than a trifle over three hours, and it was a relief to know we still had so much of darkness left in which to operate.
outlinesnounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪnz/
plural of “outline” — the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Our tramp had seemed longer than a trifle over three hours, and it was a relief to know we still had so much of darkness left in which to operate.
OVERHEARDverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhɜːrd/
inflected form of “overhear” — hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
to become aware of through the senses
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading Our tramp had seemed longer than a trifle over three hours, and it was a relief to know we still had so much of darkness left in which to operate.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Our tramp had seemed longer than a trifle over three hours, and it was a relief to know we still had so much of darkness left in which to operate.
sharpenedadjectiveUS /ˈʃɑːrpənd/
having the point made sharp
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Our tramp had seemed longer than a trifle over three hours, and it was a relief to know we still had so much of darkness left in which to operate.
not in physical motion
From this reading Our tramp had seemed longer than a trifle over three hours, and it was a relief to know we still had so much of darkness left in which to operate.
express in words
From this reading I touched the man lying next me, unable to tell one dark form from another.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Our tramp had seemed longer than a trifle over three hours, and it was a relief to know we still had so much of darkness left in which to operate.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I felt of the face of my watch, deciding the time to be not far from half-past twelve.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I felt of the face of my watch, deciding the time to be not far from half-past twelve.
having come into contact
From this reading I touched the man lying next me, unable to tell one dark form from another.
trampnounUS /træmp/
a vagrant
From this reading Our tramp had seemed longer than a trifle over three hours, and it was a relief to know we still had so much of darkness left in which to operate.
trampedverbUS /træmpt/
past form of “tramp” — travel on foot, especially on a walking expedition
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading Our tramp had seemed longer than a trifle over three hours, and it was a relief to know we still had so much of darkness left in which to operate.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading I felt of the face of my watch, deciding the time to be not far from half-past twelve.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading I touched the man lying next me, unable to tell one dark form from another.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
vigilnounUS /ˈvɪdʒəl/
a period of sleeplessness
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
look attentively
From this reading I felt of the face of my watch, deciding the time to be not far from half-past twelve.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading OVERHEARD CONVERSATION It was a little gully, hardly more than a tramped footpath, leading down the bank up which we crept until we attained the level.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With eyes sharpened by the long night vigil we could perceive the dim outlines of buildings, and a glow or two of distant lights.
