used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had found a good camping-ground, where wood was abundant, and had tried to light a fire.
abundantadjectiveUS /əˈbʌndənt/
present in great quantity
From this reading They had found a good camping-ground, where wood was abundant, and had tried to light a fire.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At this crushing news, Fred left his post and went back with Maurice, who explained what had happened.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As a last hope, Maurice had hurried back to their night camp for fire, only to find that the wet log had smouldered down and gone dead out.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At this crushing news, Fred left his post and went back with Maurice, who explained what had happened.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading At this crushing news, Fred left his post and went back with Maurice, who explained what had happened.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading But the remaining matches proved to have been badly dampened; the heads were pasty or entirely soaked off.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But the remaining matches proved to have been badly dampened; the heads were pasty or entirely soaked off.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the remaining matches proved to have been badly dampened; the heads were pasty or entirely soaked off.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading One by one they fizzled and went out.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading As a last hope, Maurice had hurried back to their night camp for fire, only to find that the wet log had smouldered down and gone dead out.
camping-ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had found a good camping-ground, where wood was abundant, and had tried to light a fire.
crushingadjectiveUS /ˈkrʌʃɪŋ/
physically or spiritually devastating; often used in combination
From this reading At this crushing news, Fred left his post and went back with Maurice, who explained what had happened.
dampenedverbUS /ˈdæmpənd/
past form of “dampen” — suppress or constrain so as to lessen in intensity
From this reading But the remaining matches proved to have been badly dampened; the heads were pasty or entirely soaked off.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading As a last hope, Maurice had hurried back to their night camp for fire, only to find that the wet log had smouldered down and gone dead out.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading As a last hope, Maurice had hurried back to their night camp for fire, only to find that the wet log had smouldered down and gone dead out.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading But the remaining matches proved to have been badly dampened; the heads were pasty or entirely soaked off.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading At this crushing news, Fred left his post and went back with Maurice, who explained what had happened.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading As a last hope, Maurice had hurried back to their night camp for fire, only to find that the wet log had smouldered down and gone dead out.
start firing a weapon
From this reading They had found a good camping-ground, where wood was abundant, and had tried to light a fire.
fizzledverbUS /ˈfɪzəld/
past form of “fizzle” — end weakly
From this reading One by one they fizzled and went out.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As a last hope, Maurice had hurried back to their night camp for fire, only to find that the wet log had smouldered down and gone dead out.
set up or found
From this reading They had found a good camping-ground, where wood was abundant, and had tried to light a fire.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this crushing news, Fred left his post and went back with Maurice, who explained what had happened.
destroyed or killed
From this reading As a last hope, Maurice had hurried back to their night camp for fire, only to find that the wet log had smouldered down and gone dead out.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading They had found a good camping-ground, where wood was abundant, and had tried to light a fire.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At this crushing news, Fred left his post and went back with Maurice, who explained what had happened.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading At this crushing news, Fred left his post and went back with Maurice, who explained what had happened.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But the remaining matches proved to have been badly dampened; the heads were pasty or entirely soaked off.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading But the remaining matches proved to have been badly dampened; the heads were pasty or entirely soaked off.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At this crushing news, Fred left his post and went back with Maurice, who explained what had happened.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading As a last hope, Maurice had hurried back to their night camp for fire, only to find that the wet log had smouldered down and gone dead out.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading As a last hope, Maurice had hurried back to their night camp for fire, only to find that the wet log had smouldered down and gone dead out.
immediately past
From this reading As a last hope, Maurice had hurried back to their night camp for fire, only to find that the wet log had smouldered down and gone dead out.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading At this crushing news, Fred left his post and went back with Maurice, who explained what had happened.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading They had found a good camping-ground, where wood was abundant, and had tried to light a fire.
logverbUS /lɔːɡ/
enter into a log, as on ships and planes
From this reading As a last hope, Maurice had hurried back to their night camp for fire, only to find that the wet log had smouldered down and gone dead out.
matchesnounUS /ˈmætʃəz/
plural of “match” — lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction
From this reading But the remaining matches proved to have been badly dampened; the heads were pasty or entirely soaked off.
Maurice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this crushing news, Fred left his post and went back with Maurice, who explained what had happened.
information about recent and important events
From this reading At this crushing news, Fred left his post and went back with Maurice, who explained what had happened.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading As a last hope, Maurice had hurried back to their night camp for fire, only to find that the wet log had smouldered down and gone dead out.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But the remaining matches proved to have been badly dampened; the heads were pasty or entirely soaked off.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One by one they fizzled and went out.
and nothing more
From this reading As a last hope, Maurice had hurried back to their night camp for fire, only to find that the wet log had smouldered down and gone dead out.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But the remaining matches proved to have been badly dampened; the heads were pasty or entirely soaked off.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading One by one they fizzled and went out.
pastyadjective
resembling paste in color; pallid
From this reading But the remaining matches proved to have been badly dampened; the heads were pasty or entirely soaked off.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading At this crushing news, Fred left his post and went back with Maurice, who explained what had happened.
established beyond doubt
From this reading But the remaining matches proved to have been badly dampened; the heads were pasty or entirely soaked off.
not used up
From this reading But the remaining matches proved to have been badly dampened; the heads were pasty or entirely soaked off.
smouldered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a last hope, Maurice had hurried back to their night camp for fire, only to find that the wet log had smouldered down and gone dead out.
soakedadjectiveUS /soʊkt/
very drunk
From this reading But the remaining matches proved to have been badly dampened; the heads were pasty or entirely soaked off.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As a last hope, Maurice had hurried back to their night camp for fire, only to find that the wet log had smouldered down and gone dead out.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But the remaining matches proved to have been badly dampened; the heads were pasty or entirely soaked off.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading As a last hope, Maurice had hurried back to their night camp for fire, only to find that the wet log had smouldered down and gone dead out.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had found a good camping-ground, where wood was abundant, and had tried to light a fire.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At this crushing news, Fred left his post and went back with Maurice, who explained what had happened.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They had found a good camping-ground, where wood was abundant, and had tried to light a fire.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading They had found a good camping-ground, where wood was abundant, and had tried to light a fire.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They had found a good camping-ground, where wood was abundant, and had tried to light a fire.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading At this crushing news, Fred left his post and went back with Maurice, who explained what had happened.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But the remaining matches proved to have been badly dampened; the heads were pasty or entirely soaked off.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading As a last hope, Maurice had hurried back to their night camp for fire, only to find that the wet log had smouldered down and gone dead out.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading At this crushing news, Fred left his post and went back with Maurice, who explained what had happened.
in or at the place that
From this reading They had found a good camping-ground, where wood was abundant, and had tried to light a fire.
which person or people
From this reading At this crushing news, Fred left his post and went back with Maurice, who explained what had happened.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At this crushing news, Fred left his post and went back with Maurice, who explained what had happened.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading They had found a good camping-ground, where wood was abundant, and had tried to light a fire.
