used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The mounting of this height was a matter of no little difficulty.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Suddenly, about half-way up the slope, the ground sank abruptly, forming a deep ravine that had to be crossed before continuing the ascent.
quickly and without warning
From this reading Suddenly, about half-way up the slope, the ground sank abruptly, forming a deep ravine that had to be crossed before continuing the ascent.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
(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 We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
AMBUSCADEnoun
the act of concealing yourself and lying in wait to attack by surprise
From this reading AN AMBUSCADE.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN AMBUSCADE.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
ascentnounUS /əˈsent/
an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
installation from which a military force initiates operations
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Suddenly, about half-way up the slope, the ground sank abruptly, forming a deep ravine that had to be crossed before continuing the ascent.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Suddenly, about half-way up the slope, the ground sank abruptly, forming a deep ravine that had to be crossed before continuing the ascent.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
brushwoodnoun
the wood from bushes or small branches
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
caravannounUS /ˈkærəvæn/
a procession (of wagons or mules or camels) traveling together in single file
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
clingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
without stop or interruption
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
continuingadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːɪŋ/
remaining in force or being carried on without letup
From this reading Suddenly, about half-way up the slope, the ground sank abruptly, forming a deep ravine that had to be crossed before continuing the ascent.
placed crosswise
From this reading Suddenly, about half-way up the slope, the ground sank abruptly, forming a deep ravine that had to be crossed before continuing the ascent.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Suddenly, about half-way up the slope, the ground sank abruptly, forming a deep ravine that had to be crossed before continuing the ascent.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading The mounting of this height was a matter of no little difficulty.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
formingverbUS /ˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “form” — create (as an entity)
From this reading Suddenly, about half-way up the slope, the ground sank abruptly, forming a deep ravine that had to be crossed before continuing the ascent.
goatsnounUS /ɡoʊts/
plural of “goat” — any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Suddenly, about half-way up the slope, the ground sank abruptly, forming a deep ravine that had to be crossed before continuing the ascent.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
half-way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly, about half-way up the slope, the ground sank abruptly, forming a deep ravine that had to be crossed before continuing the ascent.
only a very short time before
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading The mounting of this height was a matter of no little difficulty.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
interruptionnounUS /ˌɪntərˈʌpʃən/
an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
leadsnounUS /liːdz/
plural of “lead” — an advantage held by a competitor in a race
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The mounting of this height was a matter of no little difficulty.
march in a procession
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The mounting of this height was a matter of no little difficulty.
mountingnounUS /ˈmaʊntɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading The mounting of this height was a matter of no little difficulty.
not any; not one
From this reading The mounting of this height was a matter of no little difficulty.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
overlookingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərlʊkɪŋ/
used of a height or viewpoint
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
plateaunounUS /plæˈtoʊ/
a relatively flat highland
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
ravinenounUS /rəˈviːn/
a deep narrow steep-sided valley (especially one formed by running water)
From this reading Suddenly, about half-way up the slope, the ground sank abruptly, forming a deep ravine that had to be crossed before continuing the ascent.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading Suddenly, about half-way up the slope, the ground sank abruptly, forming a deep ravine that had to be crossed before continuing the ascent.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading Suddenly, about half-way up the slope, the ground sank abruptly, forming a deep ravine that had to be crossed before continuing the ascent.
having a sharp inclination
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly, about half-way up the slope, the ground sank abruptly, forming a deep ravine that had to be crossed before continuing the ascent.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The mounting of this height was a matter of no little difficulty.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
tramplingnounUS /ˈtræmplɪŋ/
the sound of heavy treading or stomping
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
tuftsnounUS /tʌfts/
plural of “tuft” — a bunch of hair or feathers or growing grass
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Suddenly, about half-way up the slope, the ground sank abruptly, forming a deep ravine that had to be crossed before continuing the ascent.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The mounting of this height was a matter of no little difficulty.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the track which the head of the caravan had opened.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading For two days we continued our return march without any interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that leads to the plateau overlooking the river.
