used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He crossed a swift-flowing creek on a narrow, sagging foot-log and went on toward the swamp.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was a piping, uncertain voice endeavoring to run the scale after the manner of the exercises in a rural singing-class.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then an unexpected sound fell upon his ears.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He crossed a swift-flowing creek on a narrow, sagging foot-log and went on toward the swamp.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
blackberrynounUS /ˈblækberi/
large sweet black or very dark purple edible aggregate fruit of any of various bushes of the genus Rubus
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
blurredadjectiveUS /blɜːrd/
indistinct or hazy in outline
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
bulrushes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading He crossed a swift-flowing creek on a narrow, sagging foot-log and went on toward the swamp.
placed crosswise
From this reading He crossed a swift-flowing creek on a narrow, sagging foot-log and went on toward the swamp.
descried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading |WARREN strode down the narrow winding path through the meadow.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Then an unexpected sound fell upon his ears.
endeavoringverbUS /ɪnˈdevərɪŋ/
-ing form of “endeavor” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading It was a piping, uncertain voice endeavoring to run the scale after the manner of the exercises in a rural singing-class.
exercisesnounUS /ˈeksərsaɪzəz/
plural of “exercise” — the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit
From this reading It was a piping, uncertain voice endeavoring to run the scale after the manner of the exercises in a rural singing-class.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Then an unexpected sound fell upon his ears.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
foot-log
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He crossed a swift-flowing creek on a narrow, sagging foot-log and went on toward the swamp.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He crossed a swift-flowing creek on a narrow, sagging foot-log and went on toward the swamp.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then an unexpected sound fell upon his ears.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a piping, uncertain voice endeavoring to run the scale after the manner of the exercises in a rural singing-class.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a piping, uncertain voice endeavoring to run the scale after the manner of the exercises in a rural singing-class.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It was a piping, uncertain voice endeavoring to run the scale after the manner of the exercises in a rural singing-class.
meadownounUS /ˈmedoʊ/
a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay
From this reading |WARREN strode down the narrow winding path through the meadow.
morassnounUS /mərˈæs/
a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading |WARREN strode down the narrow winding path through the meadow.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He crossed a swift-flowing creek on a narrow, sagging foot-log and went on toward the swamp.
outlinesnounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪnz/
plural of “outline” — the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
patchnounUS /pætʃ/
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
a course of conduct
From this reading |WARREN strode down the narrow winding path through the meadow.
pipingnounUS /ˈpaɪpɪŋ/
a thin strip of covered cord used to edge hems
From this reading It was a piping, uncertain voice endeavoring to run the scale after the manner of the exercises in a rural singing-class.
pond-lilies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading It was a piping, uncertain voice endeavoring to run the scale after the manner of the exercises in a rural singing-class.
ruraladjectiveUS /ˈrʊrəl/
living in or characteristic of farming or country life
From this reading It was a piping, uncertain voice endeavoring to run the scale after the manner of the exercises in a rural singing-class.
saggingadjectiveUS /ˈsæɡɪŋ/
hanging down (as from exhaustion or weakness)
From this reading He crossed a swift-flowing creek on a narrow, sagging foot-log and went on toward the swamp.
scalenounUS /skeɪl/
an ordered reference standard
From this reading It was a piping, uncertain voice endeavoring to run the scale after the manner of the exercises in a rural singing-class.
singing-class
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a piping, uncertain voice endeavoring to run the scale after the manner of the exercises in a rural singing-class.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Then an unexpected sound fell upon his ears.
strodeverbUS /stroʊd/
inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading |WARREN strode down the narrow winding path through the meadow.
swampverbUS /swɑːmp/
drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged
From this reading He crossed a swift-flowing creek on a narrow, sagging foot-log and went on toward the swamp.
swift-flowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He crossed a swift-flowing creek on a narrow, sagging foot-log and went on toward the swamp.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading |WARREN strode down the narrow winding path through the meadow.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then an unexpected sound fell upon his ears.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading |WARREN strode down the narrow winding path through the meadow.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was a piping, uncertain voice endeavoring to run the scale after the manner of the exercises in a rural singing-class.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading He crossed a swift-flowing creek on a narrow, sagging foot-log and went on toward the swamp.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading It was a piping, uncertain voice endeavoring to run the scale after the manner of the exercises in a rural singing-class.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading Then an unexpected sound fell upon his ears.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Then an unexpected sound fell upon his ears.
vinesnounUS /vaɪnz/
plural of “vine” — a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading It was a piping, uncertain voice endeavoring to run the scale after the manner of the exercises in a rural singing-class.
WARRENnounUS /ˈwɔːrən/
United States writer and poet (1905-1989)
From this reading |WARREN strode down the narrow winding path through the meadow.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He crossed a swift-flowing creek on a narrow, sagging foot-log and went on toward the swamp.
at the time that
From this reading When he was some distance from the cabin he descried, beyond a patch of blackberry vines and a morass full of pond-lilies and bulrushes, the blurred outlines of a solitary figure.
windingadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪndɪŋ/
marked by repeated turns and bends
From this reading |WARREN strode down the narrow winding path through the meadow.
