adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
advantagenounUS /ædˈvæntɪdʒ/
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
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 San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading So, with the tide already half-ebbed, it was necessary for us to make time.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
authoritiesnounUS /əˈθɔːrətiz/
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
calledverbUS /kɔːld/
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
Charley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
coolies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
CreeknounUS /kriːk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
deadadjectiveUS /ded/
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
difficultadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfəkəlt/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
fallingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlɪŋ/
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
finallyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnəli/
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So, with the tide already half-ebbed, it was necessary for us to make time.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
half-ebbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, with the tide already half-ebbed, it was necessary for us to make time.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
holdingnounUS /ˈhoʊldɪŋ/
the act of retaining something
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
impossibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
junknounUS /dʒʌŋk/
the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
landnounUS /lænd/
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
lumberingnounUS /ˈlʌmbərɪŋ/
the trade of cutting or preparing or selling timber
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading So, with the tide already half-ebbed, it was necessary for us to make time.
marshesnounUS /ˈmɑːrʃəz/
plural of “marsh” — low-lying wet land with grassy vegetation; usually is a transition zone between land and water
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
navigateverbUS /ˈnævəɡeɪt/
travel on water propelled by wind or by other means
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
necessaryadjectiveUS /ˈnesəseri/
absolutely essential
From this reading So, with the tide already half-ebbed, it was necessary for us to make time.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
preventedverbUS /prɪˈventɪd/
past form of “prevent” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
prisonersnounUS /ˈprɪzənərz/
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
puffyadjectiveUS /ˈpʌfi/
being puffed out; used of hair style or clothing
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
Rafael
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
ranverbUS /ræn/
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/
on the contrary
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
reachverbUS /riːtʃ/
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
ReindeernounUS /ˈreɪndɪr/
Arctic deer with large antlers in both sexes; called “reindeer” in Eurasia and “caribou” in North America
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
sailverbUS /seɪl/
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So, with the tide already half-ebbed, it was necessary for us to make time.
strongeradjectiveUS /ˈstrɔːŋər/
comparative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
TellverbUS /tel/
express in words
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “Tell those coolies to get up that sail,” Charley finally called to me.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
tidenounUS /taɪd/
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading So, with the tide already half-ebbed, it was necessary for us to make time.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
townnounUS /taʊn/
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
turnverbUS /tɜːrn/
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading So, with the tide already half-ebbed, it was necessary for us to make time.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
weightnounUS /weɪt/
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading This the heavy junk prevented, lumbering along behind and holding the _Reindeer_ back by just so much dead weight.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
wide-stretching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading San Rafael Creek, up which we had to go to reach the town and turn over our prisoners to the authorities, ran through wide-stretching marshes, and was difficult to navigate on a falling tide, while at low tide it was impossible to navigate at all.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading So, with the tide already half-ebbed, it was necessary for us to make time.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The wind, coming off the land, was rather puffy and uncertain, and it would have been more to our advantage had it been stronger.
