used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A bridge had never been, a ferry no man had dreamed of here.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Flowed only the wide sweep of tawny waters, boiling and fretting, bearing rape of far-off flats, tree trunks rolling and dipping.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The foreman sat with his employer on the steep crest of the ravine selected as the take-off for the ford.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading The cattle had been pushed close to the south bank of the great mysterious river.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading Flowed only the wide sweep of tawny waters, boiling and fretting, bearing rape of far-off flats, tree trunks rolling and dipping.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The cattle had been pushed close to the south bank of the great mysterious river.
boilingnounUS /ˈbɔɪlɪŋ/
the application of heat to change something from a liquid to a gas
From this reading Flowed only the wide sweep of tawny waters, boiling and fretting, bearing rape of far-off flats, tree trunks rolling and dipping.
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading A bridge had never been, a ferry no man had dreamed of here.
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading The cattle had been pushed close to the south bank of the great mysterious river.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The cattle had been pushed close to the south bank of the great mysterious river.
crestnounUS /krest/
the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
From this reading The foreman sat with his employer on the steep crest of the ravine selected as the take-off for the ford.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE RUBICON NOW it was noon of the next day.
dippingverbUS /ˈdɪpɪŋ/
inflected form of “dip” — immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate
From this reading Flowed only the wide sweep of tawny waters, boiling and fretting, bearing rape of far-off flats, tree trunks rolling and dipping.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading A bridge had never been, a ferry no man had dreamed of here.
employernounUS /emˈplɔɪər/
a person or firm that employs workers
From this reading The foreman sat with his employer on the steep crest of the ravine selected as the take-off for the ford.
far-offadjective
very far away in space or time
From this reading Flowed only the wide sweep of tawny waters, boiling and fretting, bearing rape of far-off flats, tree trunks rolling and dipping.
ferryverbUS /ˈferi/
transport from one place to another
From this reading A bridge had never been, a ferry no man had dreamed of here.
flatsnounUS /flæts/
footwear (shoes or slippers) with no heel (or a very low heel)
From this reading Flowed only the wide sweep of tawny waters, boiling and fretting, bearing rape of far-off flats, tree trunks rolling and dipping.
FlowedverbUS /floʊd/
past form of “flow” — move or progress freely as if in a stream
From this reading Flowed only the wide sweep of tawny waters, boiling and fretting, bearing rape of far-off flats, tree trunks rolling and dipping.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The foreman sat with his employer on the steep crest of the ravine selected as the take-off for the ford.
fordnounUS /fɔːrd/
United States film maker (1896-1973)
From this reading The foreman sat with his employer on the steep crest of the ravine selected as the take-off for the ford.
foremannounUS /ˈfɔːrmən/
a person who exercises control over workers
From this reading The foreman sat with his employer on the steep crest of the ravine selected as the take-off for the ford.
frettingverbUS /ˈfretɪŋ/
inflected form of “fret” — worry unnecessarily or excessively
From this reading Flowed only the wide sweep of tawny waters, boiling and fretting, bearing rape of far-off flats, tree trunks rolling and dipping.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The cattle had been pushed close to the south bank of the great mysterious river.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The cattle had been pushed close to the south bank of the great mysterious river.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading A bridge had never been, a ferry no man had dreamed of here.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The foreman sat with his employer on the steep crest of the ravine selected as the take-off for the ford.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE RUBICON NOW it was noon of the next day.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A bridge had never been, a ferry no man had dreamed of here.
of an obscure nature
From this reading The cattle had been pushed close to the south bank of the great mysterious river.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading A bridge had never been, a ferry no man had dreamed of here.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE RUBICON NOW it was noon of the next day.
not any; not one
From this reading A bridge had never been, a ferry no man had dreamed of here.
the middle of the day
From this reading THE RUBICON NOW it was noon of the next day.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading THE RUBICON NOW it was noon of the next day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE RUBICON NOW it was noon of the next day.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The foreman sat with his employer on the steep crest of the ravine selected as the take-off for the ford.
and nothing more
From this reading Flowed only the wide sweep of tawny waters, boiling and fretting, bearing rape of far-off flats, tree trunks rolling and dipping.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading The cattle had been pushed close to the south bank of the great mysterious river.
rapeverbUS /reɪp/
force (someone) to have sex against their will
From this reading Flowed only the wide sweep of tawny waters, boiling and fretting, bearing rape of far-off flats, tree trunks rolling and dipping.
ravinenounUS /rəˈviːn/
a deep narrow steep-sided valley (especially one formed by running water)
From this reading The foreman sat with his employer on the steep crest of the ravine selected as the take-off for the ford.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The cattle had been pushed close to the south bank of the great mysterious river.
uttered with a trill
From this reading Flowed only the wide sweep of tawny waters, boiling and fretting, bearing rape of far-off flats, tree trunks rolling and dipping.
RUBICONnounUS /ˈruːbɪkɔːn/
the boundary in ancient times between Italy and Gaul; Caesar's crossing it with his army in 49 BC was an act of war
From this reading THE RUBICON NOW it was noon of the next day.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The foreman sat with his employer on the steep crest of the ravine selected as the take-off for the ford.
selectedadjectiveUS /səˈlektɪd/
chosen in preference to another
From this reading The foreman sat with his employer on the steep crest of the ravine selected as the take-off for the ford.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The cattle had been pushed close to the south bank of the great mysterious river.
having a sharp inclination
From this reading The foreman sat with his employer on the steep crest of the ravine selected as the take-off for the ford.
sweepverbUS /swiːp/
sweep across or over
From this reading Flowed only the wide sweep of tawny waters, boiling and fretting, bearing rape of far-off flats, tree trunks rolling and dipping.
take-off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The foreman sat with his employer on the steep crest of the ravine selected as the take-off for the ford.
tawnyadjectiveUS /ˈtɑːni/
of a light brown to brownish orange color; the color of tanned leather
From this reading Flowed only the wide sweep of tawny waters, boiling and fretting, bearing rape of far-off flats, tree trunks rolling and dipping.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RUBICON NOW it was noon of the next day.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The cattle had been pushed close to the south bank of the great mysterious river.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Flowed only the wide sweep of tawny waters, boiling and fretting, bearing rape of far-off flats, tree trunks rolling and dipping.
trunksnounUS /trʌŋks/
(used in the plural) trousers that end at or above the knee
From this reading Flowed only the wide sweep of tawny waters, boiling and fretting, bearing rape of far-off flats, tree trunks rolling and dipping.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE RUBICON NOW it was noon of the next day.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading Flowed only the wide sweep of tawny waters, boiling and fretting, bearing rape of far-off flats, tree trunks rolling and dipping.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Flowed only the wide sweep of tawny waters, boiling and fretting, bearing rape of far-off flats, tree trunks rolling and dipping.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The foreman sat with his employer on the steep crest of the ravine selected as the take-off for the ford.
