used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Never was a more miserably monotonous journey.
abandonverbUS /əˈbændən/
forsake, leave behind
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then the rains came on, and we were weather-stayed for months in a wretched Indian village.
canoenounUS /kəˈnuː/
small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
countlessadjectiveUS /ˈkaʊntləs/
too numerous to be counted
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
forebodings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My gloomy forebodings were only too fully realized.
forestsnounUS /ˈfɔːrəsts/
plural of “forest” — the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading My gloomy forebodings were only too fully realized.
depressingly dark
From this reading My gloomy forebodings were only too fully realized.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading THE HAPPY VALLEY.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading Then the rains came on, and we were weather-stayed for months in a wretched Indian village.
insectsnounUS /ˈɪnsekts/
plural of “insect” — small air-breathing arthropod
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading Never was a more miserably monotonous journey.
madnessnounUS /ˈmædnəs/
obsolete terms for legal insanity
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
miserablyadverbUS /ˈmɪzərəbli/
in a miserable manner
From this reading Never was a more miserably monotonous journey.
monotonousadjectiveUS /məˈnɑːtənəs/
tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
From this reading Never was a more miserably monotonous journey.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Then the rains came on, and we were weather-stayed for months in a wretched Indian village.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Never was a more miserably monotonous journey.
mulesnounUS /mjuːlz/
plural of “mule” — hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My gloomy forebodings were only too fully realized.
namelessadjectiveUS /ˈneɪm.ləs/
Having no name, or having a name that is kept secret or unknown.
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Never was a more miserably monotonous journey.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
and nothing more
From this reading My gloomy forebodings were only too fully realized.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
paddlingverbUS /ˈpædəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “paddle” — propel with a paddle
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
polingverbUS /ˈpoʊlɪŋ/
-ing form of “pole” — propel with a pole
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
rainsnounUS /reɪnz/
plural of “rain” — water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Then the rains came on, and we were weather-stayed for months in a wretched Indian village.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading My gloomy forebodings were only too fully realized.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
riversnounUS /ˈrɪvərz/
plural of “river” — a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
soddenadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːdən/
wet through and through; thoroughly wet
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
sunlessadjective
filled or abounding with clouds
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
carry out
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HAPPY VALLEY.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the rains came on, and we were weather-stayed for months in a wretched Indian village.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading My gloomy forebodings were only too fully realized.
tormentedadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrmentɪd/
experiencing intense pain especially mental pain
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
tracklessadjective
having no tracks
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading THE HAPPY VALLEY.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading Then the rains came on, and we were weather-stayed for months in a wretched Indian village.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Never was a more miserably monotonous journey.
wastesnounUS /weɪsts/
plural of “waste” — any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
weather-stayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the rains came on, and we were weather-stayed for months in a wretched Indian village.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading After riding for weeks, through sodden, sunless forests and trackless wastes we had to abandon our mules and take to our feet, spend weeks on nameless rivers, poling and paddling our canoe in the terrible heat, and tormented almost to madness by countless insects.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading My gloomy forebodings were only too fully realized.
of very poor quality or condition
From this reading Then the rains came on, and we were weather-stayed for months in a wretched Indian village.
