adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
ACROSSprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am pretty confident that we could have managed to get the camels through somehow, but the horses were far too weak to struggle.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
attemptedadjectiveUS /əˈtemptɪd/
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
bellynounUS /ˈbeli/
the region of the body of a vertebrate between the thorax and the pelvis
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
bogging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I am pretty confident that we could have managed to get the camels through somehow, but the horses were far too weak to struggle.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
camelsnounUS /ˈkæməlz/
plural of “camel” — cud-chewing mammal used as a draft or saddle animal in desert regions
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
carryingverbUS /ˈkæriɪŋ/
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
confidentadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnfədənt/
having or marked by confidence or assurance
From this reading I am pretty confident that we could have managed to get the camels through somehow, but the horses were far too weak to struggle.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
crossingsnounUS /ˈkrɔːsɪŋz/
plural of “crossing” — traveling across
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
DARLOT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
diggingnounUS /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/
the act of digging
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
draggedverbUS /dræɡd/
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
effortsnounUS /ˈefərts/
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
engulfedverbUS /ɪnˈɡʌlft/
past form of “engulf” — devote (oneself) fully to
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
entailingverbUS /ɪnˈteɪlɪŋ/
-ing form of “entail” — have as a logical consequence
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
faradverbUS /fɑːr/
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading I am pretty confident that we could have managed to get the camels through somehow, but the horses were far too weak to struggle.
flounderingverbUS /ˈflaʊndərɪŋ/
-ing form of “flounder” — walk with great difficulty
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
FournounUS /fɔːr/
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
furtheradverbUS /ˈfɜːrðər/
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I am pretty confident that we could have managed to get the camels through somehow, but the horses were far too weak to struggle.
HighlandernounUS /ˈhaɪlændər/
a soldier in a Scottish regiment from the Highlands
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
horsesnounUS /ˈhɔːrsəz/
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I am pretty confident that we could have managed to get the camels through somehow, but the horses were far too weak to struggle.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
jobnounUS /dʒɑːb/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
LAKEnounUS /leɪk/
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
leastadjectiveUS /liːst/
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
legsnounUS /leɡz/
staying power
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
loadsnounUS /loʊdz/
a large number or amount
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
managedverbUS /ˈmænədʒd/
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading I am pretty confident that we could have managed to get the camels through somehow, but the horses were far too weak to struggle.
minutenounUS /ˈmɪnət/
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
mudnounUS /mʌd/
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
pantingnounUS /ˈpæntɪŋ/
breathing heavily (as after exertion)
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
PooradjectiveUS /puːr/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
prettyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪti/
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading I am pretty confident that we could have managed to get the camels through somehow, but the horses were far too weak to struggle.
puttingnounUS /ˈpʌtɪŋ/
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
rescueverbUS /ˈreskjuː/
free from harm or evil
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
ropenounUS /roʊp/
a strong line
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
saddlesnounUS /ˈsædəlz/
plural of “saddle” — a seat for the rider of a horse or other animal
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/
Identical; not different.
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
sankverbUS /sæŋk/
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
shorenounUS /ʃɔːr/
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
somehowadverbUS /ˈsʌmhaʊ/
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading I am pretty confident that we could have managed to get the camels through somehow, but the horses were far too weak to struggle.
spongeverbUS /spʌndʒ/
wipe with a sponge, so as to clean or moisten
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
stickyadjectiveUS /ˈstɪki/
having the sticky properties of an adhesive
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
struggleverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəl/
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading I am pretty confident that we could have managed to get the camels through somehow, but the horses were far too weak to struggle.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
succeededverbUS /səkˈsiːdɪd/
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
tasknounUS /tæsk/
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I am pretty confident that we could have managed to get the camels through somehow, but the horses were far too weak to struggle.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
threwverbUS /θruː/
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading I am pretty confident that we could have managed to get the camels through somehow, but the horses were far too weak to struggle.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading I am pretty confident that we could have managed to get the camels through somehow, but the horses were far too weak to struggle.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
unpleasantadjectiveUS /ənˈplezənt/
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Poor old Highlander sank to his belly, struggled for a minute just long enough to get further engulfed, and then threw up the sponge and lay panting until we came to his rescue.
violentadjectiveUS /ˈvaɪələnt/
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading We had a job to get him to the shore, and only succeeded by digging out two legs on one side, putting a rope round them, then the same on the other, and by violent efforts dragged him on to his side.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
weakadjectiveUS /wiːk/
wanting in physical strength
From this reading I am pretty confident that we could have managed to get the camels through somehow, but the horses were far too weak to struggle.
WELLSnounUS /welz/
prolific English writer best known for his science-fiction novels; he also wrote on contemporary social problems and wrote popular accounts of history and science (1866-1946)
From this reading ACROSS LAKE WELLS TO LAKE DARLOT Four attempted crossings ended in the hopeless bogging of horses and camels, entailing the carrying of loads and saddles.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I am pretty confident that we could have managed to get the camels through somehow, but the horses were far too weak to struggle.
wondernounUS /ˈwʌndər/
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading At last we could not get them to face the task at all; and small wonder, for floundering about in soft, sticky mud is at least unpleasant!
