used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But the heat of the northern journey seemed even more intense than the heat had been before, and there was hardly a breath of air.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading But the heat of the northern journey seemed even more intense than the heat had been before, and there was hardly a breath of air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But the heat of the northern journey seemed even more intense than the heat had been before, and there was hardly a breath of air.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For they had wasted at least six days' food in their futile southern trip.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But the heat of the northern journey seemed even more intense than the heat had been before, and there was hardly a breath of air.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But the heat of the northern journey seemed even more intense than the heat had been before, and there was hardly a breath of air.
BILLABONGnoun
a stagnant pool of water in the bed of a stream that flows intermittently
From this reading RUNNING UP THE BILLABONG.
blanketsnounUS /ˈblæŋkəts/
plural of “blanket” — bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
exhale hard
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading But the heat of the northern journey seemed even more intense than the heat had been before, and there was hardly a breath of air.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the heat of the northern journey seemed even more intense than the heat had been before, and there was hardly a breath of air.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading For they had wasted at least six days' food in their futile southern trip.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
divisible by two
From this reading But the heat of the northern journey seemed even more intense than the heat had been before, and there was hardly a breath of air.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading For they had wasted at least six days' food in their futile southern trip.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For they had wasted at least six days' food in their futile southern trip.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
futileadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtəl/
producing no result or effect
From this reading For they had wasted at least six days' food in their futile southern trip.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
only a very short time before
From this reading But the heat of the northern journey seemed even more intense than the heat had been before, and there was hardly a breath of air.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading But the heat of the northern journey seemed even more intense than the heat had been before, and there was hardly a breath of air.
hot-bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading But the heat of the northern journey seemed even more intense than the heat had been before, and there was hardly a breath of air.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
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 For they had wasted at least six days' food in their futile southern trip.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But the heat of the northern journey seemed even more intense than the heat had been before, and there was hardly a breath of air.
mosquitoesnounUS /məˈskiːtoʊz/
plural of “mosquito” — two-winged insect whose female has a long proboscis to pierce the skin and suck the blood of humans and animals
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading But the heat of the northern journey seemed even more intense than the heat had been before, and there was hardly a breath of air.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But the heat of the northern journey seemed even more intense than the heat had been before, and there was hardly a breath of air.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
the local environment
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading RUNNING UP THE BILLABONG.
scorchedadjectiveUS /skɔːrtʃt/
Burned by flames or heat; blackened by intense magical or physical fire.
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading For they had wasted at least six days' food in their futile southern trip.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading For they had wasted at least six days' food in their futile southern trip.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RUNNING UP THE BILLABONG.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading For they had wasted at least six days' food in their futile southern trip.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But the heat of the northern journey seemed even more intense than the heat had been before, and there was hardly a breath of air.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading For they had wasted at least six days' food in their futile southern trip.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading RUNNING UP THE BILLABONG.
wanderersnounUS /ˈwɑːndərərz/
plural of “wanderer” — someone who leads a wandering unsettled life
From this reading As fate now seemed to be closing in on the two wanderers, they did the journey back much faster than they had come.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the heat of the northern journey seemed even more intense than the heat had been before, and there was hardly a breath of air.
wastedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪstɪd/
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
From this reading For they had wasted at least six days' food in their futile southern trip.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading What did blow came from the north, and scorched them by day and by night; they could not stay in their blankets, and had to camp far from the creek, which was in some parts a hot-bed of mosquitoes.
