used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We pulled round astern of the wreck, and there, in a sort of natural dock, found an easy landing-place.
abruptadjectiveUS /əˈbrʌpt/
marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
in the past
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
a quantity of money
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We pulled round astern of the wreck, and there, in a sort of natural dock, found an easy landing-place.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
any person at all
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
asternadverb
stern foremost or backward
From this reading We pulled round astern of the wreck, and there, in a sort of natural dock, found an easy landing-place.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
barrenadjectiveUS /ˈbærən/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
cliffsnounUS /klɪfs/
plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
dells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
docknounUS /dɑːk/
an enclosure in a court of law where the defendant sits during the trial
From this reading We pulled round astern of the wreck, and there, in a sort of natural dock, found an easy landing-place.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading We pulled round astern of the wreck, and there, in a sort of natural dock, found an easy landing-place.
at any time
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
expectationnounUS /ˌekspekˈteɪʃən/
belief about (or mental picture of) the future
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
set up or found
From this reading We pulled round astern of the wreck, and there, in a sort of natural dock, found an easy landing-place.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We pulled round astern of the wreck, and there, in a sort of natural dock, found an easy landing-place.
inhabitedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈhæbətəd/
having inhabitants; lived in
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
landing-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We pulled round astern of the wreck, and there, in a sort of natural dock, found an easy landing-place.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading We pulled round astern of the wreck, and there, in a sort of natural dock, found an easy landing-place.
NewmannounUS /ˈnuːmən/
United States film actor (born in 1925)
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
by chance
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading We pulled round astern of the wreck, and there, in a sort of natural dock, found an easy landing-place.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
determined
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
retrieveverbUS /rɪˈtriːv/
get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading We pulled round astern of the wreck, and there, in a sort of natural dock, found an easy landing-place.
searchedverbUS /sɜːrtʃt/
past form of “search” — try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
transport commercially
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
in the near future
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading We pulled round astern of the wreck, and there, in a sort of natural dock, found an easy landing-place.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
spotsnounUS /spɑːts/
spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
not in physical motion
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
in or at that place or location
From this reading We pulled round astern of the wreck, and there, in a sort of natural dock, found an easy landing-place.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
valleysnounUS /ˈvæliz/
plural of “valley” — a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
vegetationnounUS /ˌvedʒəˈteɪʃən/
all the plant life in a particular region or period
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We pulled round astern of the wreck, and there, in a sort of natural dock, found an easy landing-place.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
at the time that
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs which arose on every side.
which person or people
From this reading We had given up all expectation of finding anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.
wrecknounUS /rek/
something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation
From this reading The captain thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having searched thoroughly for them.
