used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
highly skilled
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
anew
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
ascentnounUS /əˈsent/
an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Thinking over the matter, I decided to return at once to the cave.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
next to; at the side of
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
the two together, not just one
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
uttered without voice
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading Thinking over the matter, I decided to return at once to the cave.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
chancedverbUS /tʃænst/
past form of “chance” — be the case by chance
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
a steep high face of rock
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
columnnounUS /ˈkɑːləm/
a line of units following one after another
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
Daggett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
recognizable; marked
From this reading Thinking over the matter, I decided to return at once to the cave.
deliberationnounUS /dɪˌlɪbərˈeɪʃən/
(usually plural) discussion of all sides of a question
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
without doubt; certainly
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
comparative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
steadfast in affection or allegiance
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
footprintsnounUS /ˈfʊtprɪnts/
plural of “footprint” — a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
coins made of gold
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Thinking over the matter, I decided to return at once to the cave.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
go away from a place
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
ledgenounUS /ledʒ/
a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
liableadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪəbəl/
at risk of or subject to experiencing something usually unpleasant
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Thinking over the matter, I decided to return at once to the cave.
the force of workers available
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
held or filled or in use
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
occurverbUS /əˈkɜːr/
come to pass
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
on one occasion
From this reading Thinking over the matter, I decided to return at once to the cave.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Thinking over the matter, I decided to return at once to the cave.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
precipitousadjectiveUS /prɪˈsɪpɪtəs/
done with very great haste and without due deliberation
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
regainedverbUS /riˈɡeɪnd/
past form of “regain” — get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Thinking over the matter, I decided to return at once to the cave.
robbersnounUS /ˈrɒb.ərz/
Persons who steal from a person or place, especially using violence or threats.
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
routenounUS /ruːt/
an established line of travel or access
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
Identical; not different.
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
get by special effort
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
with low volume
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
spiedverbUS /spaɪd/
inflected form of “spy” — catch sight of
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
Sulu
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
sundownnounUS /ˈsʌndaʊn/
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
believed likely
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Thinking over the matter, I decided to return at once to the cave.
thereafteradverbUS /ðeˈræftər/
from that time on
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
thievesnounUS /θiːvz/
plural of “thief” — a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading Thinking over the matter, I decided to return at once to the cave.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Thinking over the matter, I decided to return at once to the cave.
toweredverbUS /ˈtaʊərd/
past form of “tower” — appear very large or occupy a commanding position
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
treadverbUS /tred/
put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading So we softly crept from the forest and made our way back by the same route we had come, taking care to tread in the trail made by the robbers, so that our footprints could be less easily distinguished.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For if Daggett or his men chanced to see our footprints in the sand, or suspected they were being spied upon, they would be liable to leave a guard in the cave thereafter.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
in the company of; together with
From this reading We did not feel entirely safe from observation until we had regained the column of rock which towered into the air beside the precipitous cliff; but once our feet were on the narrow ledge both I and my faithful Sulu breathed easier, and with more deliberation accomplished the ascent to the cave.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The thieves would doubtless be occupied in the forest until sundown, and such a chance as this to secure possession of the gold might never occur again.
