used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
AboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
highly skilled
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
afaradverbUS /əˈfɑːr/
(old-fashioned) at or from or to a great distance; far
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
anchornounUS /ˈæŋkər/
a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
any person at all
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
from appearances alone
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
put or send forth
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
declivities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
descried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
deviatingverbUS /ˈdiːvieɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “deviate” — turn aside; turn away from
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
distinguishableadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃəbəl/
capable of being perceived as different or distinct
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
one or the other of two
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
gorgesnounUS /ˈɡɔːrdʒəz/
plural of “gorge” — a deep ravine (usually with a river running through it)
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
hewnadjectiveUS /hjuːn/
cut or shaped with hard blows of a heavy cutting instrument like an ax or chisel
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
ten 10s
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
impregnableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpreɡnəbəl/
immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
inlandadjectiveUS /ˈɪnlænd/
situated away from an area's coast or border
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
landingnounUS /ˈlændɪŋ/
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
latitudesnounUS /ˈlætətuːdz/
plural of “latitude” — the angular distance between an imaginary line around a heavenly body parallel to its equator and the equator itself
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
on one occasion
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
the local environment
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
PORCHnounUS /pɔːrtʃ/
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
rampartnounUS /ˈræmpɑːrt/
an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
only a very short time before
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
SheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
slopedadjective
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
smoothlyadverbUS /ˈsmuːðli/
with no problems or difficulties
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
steepadjectiveUS /stiːp/
having a sharp inclination
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
not in physical motion
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
summitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
a special situation
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
tortuousadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrtʃəwəs/
highly complex or intricate and occasionally devious
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
upwardadjectiveUS /ˈʌpwərd/
directed up
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
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 Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
belonging to which person
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
wontnounUS /woʊnt/
an established custom
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
Yaque
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
