adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Two of the speakers appeared and pulled up their horses near by in a dry hollow that lay between them and the river bank.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
banknounUS /bæŋk/
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Two of the speakers appeared and pulled up their horses near by in a dry hollow that lay between them and the river bank.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Two of the speakers appeared and pulled up their horses near by in a dry hollow that lay between them and the river bank.
breakingnounUS /ˈbreɪkɪŋ/
the act of breaking something
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
BYprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
caughtverbUS /kɑːt/
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
crackleverbUS /ˈkrækəl/
make a crackling sound
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
Dick'snounUS /dɪks/
possessive form of “dick” — someone who is a detective
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
dryadjectiveUS /draɪ/
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading Two of the speakers appeared and pulled up their horses near by in a dry hollow that lay between them and the river bank.
earsnounUS /ɪrz/
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
earth-dwelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peeping between the reeds that grew about the mouth of the earth-dwelling, Eve saw them.
EvenounUS /iːv/
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading “My father and the Frenchman,” she whispered.
FIGHTverbUS /faɪt/
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
FrenchmannounUS /ˈfrentʃmæn/
a person of French nationality
From this reading “My father and the Frenchman,” she whispered.
grewverbUS /ɡruː/
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Peeping between the reeds that grew about the mouth of the earth-dwelling, Eve saw them.
GreyadjectiveUS /ɡreɪ/
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
hollowadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːloʊ/
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading Two of the speakers appeared and pulled up their horses near by in a dry hollow that lay between them and the river bank.
hoofsnounUS /hʊfs/
plural of “hoof” — the foot of an ungulate mammal
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
horsesnounUS /ˈhɔːrsəz/
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
Hugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Two of the speakers appeared and pulled up their horses near by in a dry hollow that lay between them and the river bank.
lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Two of the speakers appeared and pulled up their horses near by in a dry hollow that lay between them and the river bank.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
minutenounUS /ˈmɪnət/
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
mouthnounUS /maʊθ/
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Peeping between the reeds that grew about the mouth of the earth-dwelling, Eve saw them.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “My father and the Frenchman,” she whispered.
nearadverbUS /nɪr/
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Two of the speakers appeared and pulled up their horses near by in a dry hollow that lay between them and the river bank.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
PeepingverbUS /ˈpiːpɪŋ/
-ing form of “peep” — look furtively
From this reading Peeping between the reeds that grew about the mouth of the earth-dwelling, Eve saw them.
pulledverbUS /pʊld/
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading Two of the speakers appeared and pulled up their horses near by in a dry hollow that lay between them and the river bank.
quickadjectiveUS /kwɪk/
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
reedsnounUS /riːdz/
plural of “reed” — tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
ringingnounUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/
the sound of a bell ringing
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
RIVERnounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading Peeping between the reeds that grew about the mouth of the earth-dwelling, Eve saw them.
sharpernounUS /ˈʃɑːrpər/
a professional card player who makes a living by cheating at card games
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “My father and the Frenchman,” she whispered.
soundnounUS /saʊnd/
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
speakersnounUS /ˈspiːkərz/
plural of “speaker” — someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading Two of the speakers appeared and pulled up their horses near by in a dry hollow that lay between them and the river bank.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Two of the speakers appeared and pulled up their horses near by in a dry hollow that lay between them and the river bank.
theirspronounUS /ðerz/
the one or ones belonging to them
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Two of the speakers appeared and pulled up their horses near by in a dry hollow that lay between them and the river bank.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
TwonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two of the speakers appeared and pulled up their horses near by in a dry hollow that lay between them and the river bank.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Two of the speakers appeared and pulled up their horses near by in a dry hollow that lay between them and the river bank.
voicesnounUS /ˈvɔɪsəz/
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading About half a minute later, however, they caught the sound of horses’ hoofs ringing on the hard earth, followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking reeds.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing, but Grey Dick’s ears were sharper than theirs, quick as these might be.
whisperedadjectiveUS /ˈwɪspərd/
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading “My father and the Frenchman,” she whispered.
