1805
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August, 1805.--While these things were occurring to Capt. Lewis, the party in the boats were slowly and laboriously ascending the river.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They saw numbers of otters, some beavers, antelopes, ducks, geese, and cranes; but they killed nothing except a single deer.
abruptadjectiveUS /əˈbrʌpt/
marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading August, 1805.--While these things were occurring to Capt. Lewis, the party in the boats were slowly and laboriously ascending the river.
antelopes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They saw numbers of otters, some beavers, antelopes, ducks, geese, and cranes; but they killed nothing except a single deer.
ascendingadjectiveUS /əˈsendɪŋ/
moving or going or growing upward
From this reading August, 1805.--While these things were occurring to Capt. Lewis, the party in the boats were slowly and laboriously ascending the river.
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading August, 1805.--While these things were occurring to Capt. Lewis, the party in the boats were slowly and laboriously ascending the river.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
beaversnounUS /ˈbiːvərz/
plural of “beaver” — the soft brown fur of the beaver
From this reading They saw numbers of otters, some beavers, antelopes, ducks, geese, and cranes; but they killed nothing except a single deer.
bendsnounUS /bendz/
pain resulting from rapid change in pressure
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading THE PARTY IN THE BOATS.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They saw numbers of otters, some beavers, antelopes, ducks, geese, and cranes; but they killed nothing except a single deer.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
canoesnounUS /kəˈnuːz/
plural of “canoe” — small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
Capt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August, 1805.--While these things were occurring to Capt. Lewis, the party in the boats were slowly and laboriously ascending the river.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading They caught, however, some very fine trout.
cranesnounUS /kreɪnz/
plural of “crane” — United States writer (1871-1900)
From this reading They saw numbers of otters, some beavers, antelopes, ducks, geese, and cranes; but they killed nothing except a single deer.
crookedadjectiveUS /ˈkrʊkəd/
having or marked by bends or angles; not straight or aligned
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
distinguished from Bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers
From this reading They saw numbers of otters, some beavers, antelopes, ducks, geese, and cranes; but they killed nothing except a single deer.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
ducksnounUS /dʌks/
plural of “duck” — small wild or domesticated web-footed broad-billed swimming bird usually having a depressed body and short legs
From this reading They saw numbers of otters, some beavers, antelopes, ducks, geese, and cranes; but they killed nothing except a single deer.
apart from; not including
From this reading They saw numbers of otters, some beavers, antelopes, ducks, geese, and cranes; but they killed nothing except a single deer.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading They caught, however, some very fine trout.
geesenounUS /ɡiːs/
plural of “goose” — web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
From this reading They saw numbers of otters, some beavers, antelopes, ducks, geese, and cranes; but they killed nothing except a single deer.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading They caught, however, some very fine trout.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE PARTY IN THE BOATS.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading They saw numbers of otters, some beavers, antelopes, ducks, geese, and cranes; but they killed nothing except a single deer.
laboriouslyadverbUS /ləˈbɔːriəsli/
in a laborious manner
From this reading August, 1805.--While these things were occurring to Capt. Lewis, the party in the boats were slowly and laboriously ascending the river.
LewisnounUS /ˈluːɪs/
United States rock star singer and pianist (born in 1935)
From this reading August, 1805.--While these things were occurring to Capt. Lewis, the party in the boats were slowly and laboriously ascending the river.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
the force of workers available
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading They saw numbers of otters, some beavers, antelopes, ducks, geese, and cranes; but they killed nothing except a single deer.
the fourth book of the Old Testament; contains a record of the number of Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt
From this reading They saw numbers of otters, some beavers, antelopes, ducks, geese, and cranes; but they killed nothing except a single deer.
obstructedadjectiveUS /əbˈstrʌktɪd/
shut off to passage or view or hindered from action
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
occurringverbUS /əˈkɜːrɪŋ/
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading August, 1805.--While these things were occurring to Capt. Lewis, the party in the boats were slowly and laboriously ascending the river.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
ottersnounUS /ˈɑːtərz/
plural of “otter” — the fur of an otter
From this reading They saw numbers of otters, some beavers, antelopes, ducks, geese, and cranes; but they killed nothing except a single deer.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading THE PARTY IN THE BOATS.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading August, 1805.--While these things were occurring to Capt. Lewis, the party in the boats were slowly and laboriously ascending the river.
cut with a saw
From this reading They saw numbers of otters, some beavers, antelopes, ducks, geese, and cranes; but they killed nothing except a single deer.
shoalsnounUS /ʃoʊlz/
plural of “shoal” — a sandbank in a stretch of water that is visible at low tide
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading They saw numbers of otters, some beavers, antelopes, ducks, geese, and cranes; but they killed nothing except a single deer.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading August, 1805.--While these things were occurring to Capt. Lewis, the party in the boats were slowly and laboriously ascending the river.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading They saw numbers of otters, some beavers, antelopes, ducks, geese, and cranes; but they killed nothing except a single deer.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PARTY IN THE BOATS.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading August, 1805.--While these things were occurring to Capt. Lewis, the party in the boats were slowly and laboriously ascending the river.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They saw numbers of otters, some beavers, antelopes, ducks, geese, and cranes; but they killed nothing except a single deer.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading August, 1805.--While these things were occurring to Capt. Lewis, the party in the boats were slowly and laboriously ascending the river.
three-fourthsnoun
three of four equal parts
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading August, 1805.--While these things were occurring to Capt. Lewis, the party in the boats were slowly and laboriously ascending the river.
troutnounUS /traʊt/
flesh of any of several primarily freshwater game and food fishes
From this reading They caught, however, some very fine trout.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading August, 1805.--While these things were occurring to Capt. Lewis, the party in the boats were slowly and laboriously ascending the river.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was very crooked, the bends short and abrupt, and obstructed by so many shoals, over which the canoes had to be dragged, that the men were in the water three-fourths of the day.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading August, 1805.--While these things were occurring to Capt. Lewis, the party in the boats were slowly and laboriously ascending the river.
