used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The southern horizon had become almost a continuous glare of lightning.
accompanimentnounUS /əˈkʌmpnɪmənt/
an event or situation that happens at the same time as or in connection with another
From this reading The thunder rolled heavily, and this, united with the splash and roar of the sea, lent an accompaniment to the scene well calculated to try the strongest nerves.
adriftadjectiveUS /əˈdrɪft/
aimlessly drifting
From this reading At times, Matt, Glennie, and Dick seemed to be adrift in the waste of waters with no substantial foothold under them.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The southern horizon had become almost a continuous glare of lightning.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The thunder rolled heavily, and this, united with the splash and roar of the sea, lent an accompaniment to the scene well calculated to try the strongest nerves.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The thunder rolled heavily, and this, united with the splash and roar of the sea, lent an accompaniment to the scene well calculated to try the strongest nerves.
any thing at all
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At times, Matt, Glennie, and Dick seemed to be adrift in the waste of waters with no substantial foothold under them.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading At times, Matt, Glennie, and Dick seemed to be adrift in the waste of waters with no substantial foothold under them.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The southern horizon had become almost a continuous glare of lightning.
calculatedadjectiveUS /ˈkælkjəleɪtɪd/
carefully thought out in advance
From this reading The thunder rolled heavily, and this, united with the splash and roar of the sea, lent an accompaniment to the scene well calculated to try the strongest nerves.
continuousadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəs/
continuing in time or space without interruption
From this reading The southern horizon had become almost a continuous glare of lightning.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
someone who is a detective
From this reading At times, Matt, Glennie, and Dick seemed to be adrift in the waste of waters with no substantial foothold under them.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
footholdnounUS /ˈfʊthoʊld/
an area in hostile territory that has been captured and is held awaiting further troops and supplies
From this reading At times, Matt, Glennie, and Dick seemed to be adrift in the waste of waters with no substantial foothold under them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
unflinching in battle or action
From this reading GALLANT WORK.
glarenounUS /ɡler/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading The southern horizon had become almost a continuous glare of lightning.
Glennie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At times, Matt, Glennie, and Dick seemed to be adrift in the waste of waters with no substantial foothold under them.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The southern horizon had become almost a continuous glare of lightning.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
to a considerable degree
From this reading The thunder rolled heavily, and this, united with the splash and roar of the sea, lent an accompaniment to the scene well calculated to try the strongest nerves.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading The southern horizon had become almost a continuous glare of lightning.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At times, Matt, Glennie, and Dick seemed to be adrift in the waste of waters with no substantial foothold under them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
lentnounUS /lent/
a period of 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday
From this reading The thunder rolled heavily, and this, united with the splash and roar of the sea, lent an accompaniment to the scene well calculated to try the strongest nerves.
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading The southern horizon had become almost a continuous glare of lightning.
MattnounUS /mæt/
the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss
From this reading At times, Matt, Glennie, and Dick seemed to be adrift in the waste of waters with no substantial foothold under them.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading The thunder rolled heavily, and this, united with the splash and roar of the sea, lent an accompaniment to the scene well calculated to try the strongest nerves.
not any; not one
From this reading At times, Matt, Glennie, and Dick seemed to be adrift in the waste of waters with no substantial foothold under them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The southern horizon had become almost a continuous glare of lightning.
in other respects or ways
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
prevailedverbUS /prɪˈveɪld/
past form of “prevail” — be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
past form of “render” — cause to become
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
rescuersnounUS /ˈreskjuːərz/
plural of “rescuer” — a person who rescues you from harm or danger
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading The thunder rolled heavily, and this, united with the splash and roar of the sea, lent an accompaniment to the scene well calculated to try the strongest nerves.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading The thunder rolled heavily, and this, united with the splash and roar of the sea, lent an accompaniment to the scene well calculated to try the strongest nerves.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading The thunder rolled heavily, and this, united with the splash and roar of the sea, lent an accompaniment to the scene well calculated to try the strongest nerves.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The thunder rolled heavily, and this, united with the splash and roar of the sea, lent an accompaniment to the scene well calculated to try the strongest nerves.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading At times, Matt, Glennie, and Dick seemed to be adrift in the waste of waters with no substantial foothold under them.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The southern horizon had become almost a continuous glare of lightning.
splashverbUS /splæʃ/
cause (a liquid) to spatter about, especially with force
From this reading The thunder rolled heavily, and this, united with the splash and roar of the sea, lent an accompaniment to the scene well calculated to try the strongest nerves.
strongestadjectiveUS /ˈstrɔːŋɡəst/
superlative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The thunder rolled heavily, and this, united with the splash and roar of the sea, lent an accompaniment to the scene well calculated to try the strongest nerves.
substantialadjectiveUS /səbˈstænʃəl/
of considerable importance, size, or worth
From this reading At times, Matt, Glennie, and Dick seemed to be adrift in the waste of waters with no substantial foothold under them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The southern horizon had become almost a continuous glare of lightning.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading The thunder rolled heavily, and this, united with the splash and roar of the sea, lent an accompaniment to the scene well calculated to try the strongest nerves.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading At times, Matt, Glennie, and Dick seemed to be adrift in the waste of waters with no substantial foothold under them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading The thunder rolled heavily, and this, united with the splash and roar of the sea, lent an accompaniment to the scene well calculated to try the strongest nerves.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading At times, Matt, Glennie, and Dick seemed to be adrift in the waste of waters with no substantial foothold under them.
unitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/
characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity
From this reading The thunder rolled heavily, and this, united with the splash and roar of the sea, lent an accompaniment to the scene well calculated to try the strongest nerves.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading At times, Matt, Glennie, and Dick seemed to be adrift in the waste of waters with no substantial foothold under them.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading At times, Matt, Glennie, and Dick seemed to be adrift in the waste of waters with no substantial foothold under them.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The thunder rolled heavily, and this, united with the splash and roar of the sea, lent an accompaniment to the scene well calculated to try the strongest nerves.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The thunder rolled heavily, and this, united with the splash and roar of the sea, lent an accompaniment to the scene well calculated to try the strongest nerves.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading GALLANT WORK.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading This was a help to the rescuers, otherwise the deep gloom that prevailed would have rendered it impossible for them to do anything.
