used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About them on every side were silence and solitude, uncanny in their completeness.
at or in the front
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading About them on every side were silence and solitude, uncanny in their completeness.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading No fish broke water, no bird called from the enclosing forest.
bordersnounUS /ˈbɔːrdərz/
plural of “border” — a line that indicates a boundary
From this reading The gray mist filled the distances and hung wraith-like about the borders.
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
lacking funds
From this reading No fish broke water, no bird called from the enclosing forest.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading No fish broke water, no bird called from the enclosing forest.
completenessnounUS /kəmˈpliːtnəs/
the state of being complete and entire; having everything that is needed
From this reading About them on every side were silence and solitude, uncanny in their completeness.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
CYPRESSnounUS /ˈsaɪprəs/
wood of any of various cypress trees especially of the genus Cupressus
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
distancesnounUS /ˈdɪstənsəz/
plural of “distance” — the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The gray mist filled the distances and hung wraith-like about the borders.
enclosingnounUS /enˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of enclosing something inside something else
From this reading No fish broke water, no bird called from the enclosing forest.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading About them on every side were silence and solitude, uncanny in their completeness.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The gray mist filled the distances and hung wraith-like about the borders.
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading No fish broke water, no bird called from the enclosing forest.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading No fish broke water, no bird called from the enclosing forest.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
glassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡlæsi/
resembling glass in smoothness and shininess and slickness
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The gray mist filled the distances and hung wraith-like about the borders.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading The gray mist filled the distances and hung wraith-like about the borders.
identitynounUS /aɪˈdentɪtiː/
the distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading About them on every side were silence and solitude, uncanny in their completeness.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
launchverbUS /lɔːntʃ/
set up or found
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
-ing form of “lose” — fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
marringverbUS /ˈmɑːrɪŋ/
inflected form of “mar” — make imperfect
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
become covered with mist
From this reading The gray mist filled the distances and hung wraith-like about the borders.
monotonynounUS /məˈnɑːtəni/
the quality of wearisome constancy, routine, and lack of variety
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
not any; not one
From this reading No fish broke water, no bird called from the enclosing forest.
nowherenounUS /ˈnoʊwer/
an insignificant place
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
and nothing more
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
outletnounUS /ˈaʊtlet/
a place of business for retailing goods
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
one of four equal parts
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
ripplesnounUS /ˈrɪpəlz/
plural of “ripple” — a small wave on the surface of a liquid
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading About them on every side were silence and solitude, uncanny in their completeness.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading About them on every side were silence and solitude, uncanny in their completeness.
solitudenounUS /ˈsɑːlətuːd/
a state of social isolation
From this reading About them on every side were silence and solitude, uncanny in their completeness.
somberadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːmbər/
lacking brightness or color; dull
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON CYPRESS LAKE The launch floated out into the lake, only the ripples from its bow marring the flat monotony of the glassy surface.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading About them on every side were silence and solitude, uncanny in their completeness.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading About them on every side were silence and solitude, uncanny in their completeness.
uncannyadjectiveUS /ənˈkæni/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading About them on every side were silence and solitude, uncanny in their completeness.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
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 No fish broke water, no bird called from the enclosing forest.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading About them on every side were silence and solitude, uncanny in their completeness.
widthnounUS /wɪdθ/
the extent of something from side to side
From this reading Behind them the outlet of the creek was already losing its identity, ahead the lake stretched away like a broad river, between straight lines of shore, nowhere more than a quarter of a mile in width, until its somber water became lost in the mist.
wraith-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gray mist filled the distances and hung wraith-like about the borders.
