used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "However, soon the atmosphere became milder, the distant breakers were heard, the fog rose like a curtain, and behold! land was near.
alasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading "But, alas! they soon discovered that they were on an ice-floe, and were moving north toward the open sea.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "But, alas! they soon discovered that they were on an ice-floe, and were moving north toward the open sea.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "But, alas! they soon discovered that they were on an ice-floe, and were moving north toward the open sea.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading "However, soon the atmosphere became milder, the distant breakers were heard, the fog rose like a curtain, and behold! land was near.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading "However, soon the atmosphere became milder, the distant breakers were heard, the fog rose like a curtain, and behold! land was near.
see with attention
From this reading "However, soon the atmosphere became milder, the distant breakers were heard, the fog rose like a curtain, and behold! land was near.
breakersnounUS /ˈbreɪkərz/
waves breaking on the shore
From this reading "However, soon the atmosphere became milder, the distant breakers were heard, the fog rose like a curtain, and behold! land was near.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But, alas! they soon discovered that they were on an ice-floe, and were moving north toward the open sea.
cannibalismnounUS /ˈkænəbəlɪzəm/
the practice of eating the flesh of your own kind
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading "However, soon the atmosphere became milder, the distant breakers were heard, the fog rose like a curtain, and behold! land was near.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Days and weeks passed, an impenetrable fog enveloped them, and they gave themselves up to utter hopelessness.
despairingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsperɪŋ/
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading "But, alas! they soon discovered that they were on an ice-floe, and were moving north toward the open sea.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading "However, soon the atmosphere became milder, the distant breakers were heard, the fog rose like a curtain, and behold! land was near.
envelopedverbUS /enˈveləpt/
past form of “envelop” — enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering
From this reading Days and weeks passed, an impenetrable fog enveloped them, and they gave themselves up to utter hopelessness.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
fognounUS /fɑːɡ/
droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
From this reading Days and weeks passed, an impenetrable fog enveloped them, and they gave themselves up to utter hopelessness.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
plural of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading "However, soon the atmosphere became milder, the distant breakers were heard, the fog rose like a curtain, and behold! land was near.
hopelessnessnounUS /ˈhoʊpləsnəs/
the despair you feel when you have abandoned hope of comfort or success
From this reading Days and weeks passed, an impenetrable fog enveloped them, and they gave themselves up to utter hopelessness.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading "However, soon the atmosphere became milder, the distant breakers were heard, the fog rose like a curtain, and behold! land was near.
ice-floe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "But, alas! they soon discovered that they were on an ice-floe, and were moving north toward the open sea.
impenetrableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpenətrəbəl/
not admitting of penetration or passage into or through
From this reading Days and weeks passed, an impenetrable fog enveloped them, and they gave themselves up to utter hopelessness.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading "However, soon the atmosphere became milder, the distant breakers were heard, the fog rose like a curtain, and behold! land was near.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "However, soon the atmosphere became milder, the distant breakers were heard, the fog rose like a curtain, and behold! land was near.
madnessnounUS /ˈmædnəs/
obsolete terms for legal insanity
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
milderadjectiveUS /ˈmaɪldər/
comparative of “mild” — moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme
From this reading "However, soon the atmosphere became milder, the distant breakers were heard, the fog rose like a curtain, and behold! land was near.
in motion
From this reading "But, alas! they soon discovered that they were on an ice-floe, and were moving north toward the open sea.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading "However, soon the atmosphere became milder, the distant breakers were heard, the fog rose like a curtain, and behold! land was near.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Nearer yet they floated.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading "But, alas! they soon discovered that they were on an ice-floe, and were moving north toward the open sea.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "But, alas! they soon discovered that they were on an ice-floe, and were moving north toward the open sea.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading "But, alas! they soon discovered that they were on an ice-floe, and were moving north toward the open sea.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Days and weeks passed, an impenetrable fog enveloped them, and they gave themselves up to utter hopelessness.
perishedverbUS /ˈperɪʃt/
past form of “perish” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
prayedverbUS /preɪd/
past form of “pray” — address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
ProvisionsnounUS /prəˈvɪʒənz/
a stock or supply of foods
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
resortedverbUS /rɪˈzɔːrtɪd/
past form of “resort” — have recourse to
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading "However, soon the atmosphere became milder, the distant breakers were heard, the fog rose like a curtain, and behold! land was near.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading "But, alas! they soon discovered that they were on an ice-floe, and were moving north toward the open sea.
in the near future
From this reading "But, alas! they soon discovered that they were on an ice-floe, and were moving north toward the open sea.
past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "But, alas! they soon discovered that they were on an ice-floe, and were moving north toward the open sea.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "But, alas! they soon discovered that they were on an ice-floe, and were moving north toward the open sea.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Days and weeks passed, an impenetrable fog enveloped them, and they gave themselves up to utter hopelessness.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Days and weeks passed, an impenetrable fog enveloped them, and they gave themselves up to utter hopelessness.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "But, alas! they soon discovered that they were on an ice-floe, and were moving north toward the open sea.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading "But, alas! they soon discovered that they were on an ice-floe, and were moving north toward the open sea.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Days and weeks passed, an impenetrable fog enveloped them, and they gave themselves up to utter hopelessness.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading Days and weeks passed, an impenetrable fog enveloped them, and they gave themselves up to utter hopelessness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
weakeradjectiveUS /ˈwiːkər/
comparative of “weak” — wanting in physical strength
From this reading Provisions soon gave out, they prayed to their gods, they floated and suffered, and as the weaker perished, cannibalism was resorted to--for madness possessed the despairing party.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Days and weeks passed, an impenetrable fog enveloped them, and they gave themselves up to utter hopelessness.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "But, alas! they soon discovered that they were on an ice-floe, and were moving north toward the open sea.
but in spite of that
From this reading Nearer yet they floated.
