used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Carver, lonely derelict from a happier earth-age, raises the revolt-cry: "Down with the Capeks!"
anew
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And the luxurious, human stockyards discharge their men-of-no-hope.
axnounUS /æks/
an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Inch by precarious inch he crept up the sheer wall of the glacier, kicking his toes hard into the niches below.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading Rod Carver panted heavily and the sweat froze on his brow.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Inch by precarious inch he crept up the sheer wall of the glacier, kicking his toes hard into the niches below.
Capeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Carver, lonely derelict from a happier earth-age, raises the revolt-cry: "Down with the Capeks!"
CarvernounUS /ˈkɑːrvər/
United States botanist and agricultural chemist who developed many uses for peanuts and soy beans and sweet potatoes (1864-1943)
From this reading Carver, lonely derelict from a happier earth-age, raises the revolt-cry: "Down with the Capeks!"
chippedverbUS /tʃɪpt/
inflected form of “chip” — break off (a piece from a whole)
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Inch by precarious inch he crept up the sheer wall of the glacier, kicking his toes hard into the niches below.
DependingverbUS /dɪˈpendɪŋ/
-ing form of “depend” — be contingent upon (something that is elided)
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
derelictadjectiveUS /ˈderəlɪkt/
worn and broken down by hard use
From this reading Carver, lonely derelict from a happier earth-age, raises the revolt-cry: "Down with the Capeks!"
dischargeverbUS /dɪsˈtʃɑːrdʒ/
complete or carry out
From this reading And the luxurious, human stockyards discharge their men-of-no-hope.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Carver, lonely derelict from a happier earth-age, raises the revolt-cry: "Down with the Capeks!"
earth-age
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Carver, lonely derelict from a happier earth-age, raises the revolt-cry: "Down with the Capeks!"
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Carver, lonely derelict from a happier earth-age, raises the revolt-cry: "Down with the Capeks!"
frozeverbUS /froʊz/
inflected form of “freeze” — stop moving or become immobilized
From this reading Rod Carver panted heavily and the sweat froze on his brow.
glaciernounUS /ˈɡleɪʃər/
a slowly moving mass of ice
From this reading Inch by precarious inch he crept up the sheer wall of the glacier, kicking his toes hard into the niches below.
happieradjectiveUS /ˈhæpiər/
comparative of “happy” — enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Carver, lonely derelict from a happier earth-age, raises the revolt-cry: "Down with the Capeks!"
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Inch by precarious inch he crept up the sheer wall of the glacier, kicking his toes hard into the niches below.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
to a considerable degree
From this reading Rod Carver panted heavily and the sweat froze on his brow.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Rod Carver panted heavily and the sweat froze on his brow.
holesnounUS /hoʊlz/
plural of “hole” — an opening into or through something
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading And the luxurious, human stockyards discharge their men-of-no-hope.
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading Inch by precarious inch he crept up the sheer wall of the glacier, kicking his toes hard into the niches below.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
kickingnounUS /ˈkɪkɪŋ/
a rhythmic thrusting movement of the legs as in swimming or calisthenics
From this reading Inch by precarious inch he crept up the sheer wall of the glacier, kicking his toes hard into the niches below.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading Carver, lonely derelict from a happier earth-age, raises the revolt-cry: "Down with the Capeks!"
luxuriousadjectiveUS /ləɡˈʒɜːriəs/
displaying luxury and furnishing gratification to the senses
From this reading And the luxurious, human stockyards discharge their men-of-no-hope.
men-of-no-hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the luxurious, human stockyards discharge their men-of-no-hope.
nichesnounUS /ˈnɪtʃɪz/
plural of “niche” — a position particularly well suited to the person who occupies it
From this reading Inch by precarious inch he crept up the sheer wall of the glacier, kicking his toes hard into the niches below.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Inch by precarious inch he crept up the sheer wall of the glacier, kicking his toes hard into the niches below.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Rod Carver panted heavily and the sweat froze on his brow.
pantedverbUS /ˈpæntɪd/
past form of “pant” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading Rod Carver panted heavily and the sweat froze on his brow.
precariousadjectiveUS /priˈkeriəs/
affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading Inch by precarious inch he crept up the sheer wall of the glacier, kicking his toes hard into the niches below.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
raisesnounUS /ˈreɪzəz/
plural of “raise” — the amount a salary is increased
From this reading Carver, lonely derelict from a happier earth-age, raises the revolt-cry: "Down with the Capeks!"
revolt-cry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Carver, lonely derelict from a happier earth-age, raises the revolt-cry: "Down with the Capeks!"
RodnounUS /rɑːd/
a long thin implement made of metal or wood
From this reading Rod Carver panted heavily and the sweat froze on his brow.
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Inch by precarious inch he crept up the sheer wall of the glacier, kicking his toes hard into the niches below.
stockyardsnounUS /ˈstɑːkjɑːrdz/
plural of “stockyard” — enclosed yard where cattle, pigs, horses, or sheep are kept temporarily
From this reading And the luxurious, human stockyards discharge their men-of-no-hope.
sweatnounUS /swet/
salty fluid secreted by sweat glands
From this reading Rod Carver panted heavily and the sweat froze on his brow.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Carver, lonely derelict from a happier earth-age, raises the revolt-cry: "Down with the Capeks!"
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading And the luxurious, human stockyards discharge their men-of-no-hope.
toesnounUS /toʊz/
plural of “toe” — one of the digits of the foot
From this reading Inch by precarious inch he crept up the sheer wall of the glacier, kicking his toes hard into the niches below.
a shaky motion
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Inch by precarious inch he crept up the sheer wall of the glacier, kicking his toes hard into the niches below.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Inch by precarious inch he crept up the sheer wall of the glacier, kicking his toes hard into the niches below.
wedgedadjectiveUS /wedʒd/
wedged or packed in together
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Carver, lonely derelict from a happier earth-age, raises the revolt-cry: "Down with the Capeks!"
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Depending on his ax work now, he swung again and again, chipped shallow holes into which he wedged trembling fingers and pulled himself a little higher.
