adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
ADRIANnounUS /ˈeɪdriən/
Roman Emperor who was the adoptive son of Trajan; travelled throughout his empire to strengthen its frontiers and encourage learning and architecture; on a visit to Britain in 122 he ordered the construction of Hadrian's Wall (76-138)
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
AGAINadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
ascertainedadjectiveUS /ˌæsərˈteɪnd/
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Here, at a spot which Martha ascertained by a few hurried pacings, grew a dense tuft of reeds.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Following otter-paths through the thick rushes they came to the centre of the islet, some thirty yards away.
BeneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Beneath this nest lay the treasure, if it were still there.
birdnounUS /bɜːrd/
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading In the midst of these reeds was a duck’s nest with the young just hatching out, off which the old bird flew with terrified quackings.
boatnounUS /boʊt/
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
bottomnounUS /ˈbɑːtəm/
the lower side of anything
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Here, at a spot which Martha ascertained by a few hurried pacings, grew a dense tuft of reeds.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Following otter-paths through the thick rushes they came to the centre of the islet, some thirty yards away.
centrenounUS /ˈsentər/
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading Following otter-paths through the thick rushes they came to the centre of the islet, some thirty yards away.
COMESnounUS /kʌmz/
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading Here, at a spot which Martha ascertained by a few hurried pacings, grew a dense tuft of reeds.
duck'snounUS /dʌks/
possessive form of “duck” — small wild or domesticated web-footed broad-billed swimming bird usually having a depressed body and short legs
From this reading In the midst of these reeds was a duck’s nest with the young just hatching out, off which the old bird flew with terrified quackings.
Elsa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Here, at a spot which Martha ascertained by a few hurried pacings, grew a dense tuft of reeds.
flewverbUS /fluː/
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading In the midst of these reeds was a duck’s nest with the young just hatching out, off which the old bird flew with terrified quackings.
FollowingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Following otter-paths through the thick rushes they came to the centre of the islet, some thirty yards away.
gravellyadjectiveUS /ˈɡrævəli/
abounding in small stones
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
grewverbUS /ɡruː/
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Here, at a spot which Martha ascertained by a few hurried pacings, grew a dense tuft of reeds.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
hatchingnounUS /ˈhætʃɪŋ/
the production of young from an egg
From this reading In the midst of these reeds was a duck’s nest with the young just hatching out, off which the old bird flew with terrified quackings.
HereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here, at a spot which Martha ascertained by a few hurried pacings, grew a dense tuft of reeds.
HOMEnounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
hurriedadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːrid/
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Here, at a spot which Martha ascertained by a few hurried pacings, grew a dense tuft of reeds.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Beneath this nest lay the treasure, if it were still there.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the midst of these reeds was a duck’s nest with the young just hatching out, off which the old bird flew with terrified quackings.
islandnounUS /ˈaɪlənd/
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
isletnounUS /ˈaɪlɪt/
a small island
From this reading Following otter-paths through the thick rushes they came to the centre of the islet, some thirty yards away.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading In the midst of these reeds was a duck’s nest with the young just hatching out, off which the old bird flew with terrified quackings.
keepverbUS /kiːp/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
landedadjectiveUS /ˈlændəd/
owning or consisting of land or real estate
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Beneath this nest lay the treasure, if it were still there.
Martha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here, at a spot which Martha ascertained by a few hurried pacings, grew a dense tuft of reeds.
midstnounUS /mɪdst/
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading In the midst of these reeds was a duck’s nest with the young just hatching out, off which the old bird flew with terrified quackings.
mudnounUS /mʌd/
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
nestnounUS /nest/
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading In the midst of these reeds was a duck’s nest with the young just hatching out, off which the old bird flew with terrified quackings.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading In the midst of these reeds was a duck’s nest with the young just hatching out, off which the old bird flew with terrified quackings.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading In the midst of these reeds was a duck’s nest with the young just hatching out, off which the old bird flew with terrified quackings.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
otter-paths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Following otter-paths through the thick rushes they came to the centre of the islet, some thirty yards away.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In the midst of these reeds was a duck’s nest with the young just hatching out, off which the old bird flew with terrified quackings.
pacings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here, at a spot which Martha ascertained by a few hurried pacings, grew a dense tuft of reeds.
quackings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the midst of these reeds was a duck’s nest with the young just hatching out, off which the old bird flew with terrified quackings.
reedsnounUS /riːdz/
plural of “reed” — tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites
From this reading Here, at a spot which Martha ascertained by a few hurried pacings, grew a dense tuft of reeds.
remainedverbUS /rɪˈmeɪnd/
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
rushesnounUS /ˈrʌʃəz/
plural of “rush” — the act of moving hurriedly and in a careless manner
From this reading Following otter-paths through the thick rushes they came to the centre of the islet, some thirty yards away.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Following otter-paths through the thick rushes they came to the centre of the islet, some thirty yards away.
spotnounUS /spɑːt/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading Beneath this nest lay the treasure, if it were still there.
terrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪd/
thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
From this reading In the midst of these reeds was a duck’s nest with the young just hatching out, off which the old bird flew with terrified quackings.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Beneath this nest lay the treasure, if it were still there.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading In the midst of these reeds was a duck’s nest with the young just hatching out, off which the old bird flew with terrified quackings.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
thickadjectiveUS /θɪk/
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 Following otter-paths through the thick rushes they came to the centre of the islet, some thirty yards away.
thirtynounUS /ˈθɜːrdiː/
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading Following otter-paths through the thick rushes they came to the centre of the islet, some thirty yards away.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
treasurenounUS /ˈtreʒər/
accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.
From this reading Beneath this nest lay the treasure, if it were still there.
tuftnounUS /tʌft/
a bunch of hair or feathers or growing grass
From this reading Here, at a spot which Martha ascertained by a few hurried pacings, grew a dense tuft of reeds.
wadingnounUS /ˈweɪdɪŋ/
walking with your feet in shallow water
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the midst of these reeds was a duck’s nest with the young just hatching out, off which the old bird flew with terrified quackings.
watchverbUS /wɑːtʃ/
look attentively
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Beneath this nest lay the treasure, if it were still there.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading ADRIAN COMES HOME AGAIN They landed on the island, wading to it through the mud, which at this spot had a gravelly bottom; all of them except Elsa, who remained on the boat to keep watch.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the midst of these reeds was a duck’s nest with the young just hatching out, off which the old bird flew with terrified quackings.
yardsnounUS /jɑːrdz/
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Following otter-paths through the thick rushes they came to the centre of the islet, some thirty yards away.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading In the midst of these reeds was a duck’s nest with the young just hatching out, off which the old bird flew with terrified quackings.
