used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “There isn’t any way to get up there on this side,” he said; “but there may be on the other.”
apparitionsnounUS /ˌæpərˈɪʃənz/
plural of “apparition” — a ghostly appearing figure
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “There isn’t any way to get up there on this side,” he said; “but there may be on the other.”
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “There isn’t any way to get up there on this side,” he said; “but there may be on the other.”
buttverbUS /bʌt/
lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading “There may be a cave up there.”
a steep high face of rock
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
cliffsnounUS /klɪfs/
plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
crackverbUS /kræk/
become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
From this reading “There’s something up there that looks like a hole—a kind of crack in the rock,” rejoined Cute.
criticaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
CuteadjectiveUS /kjuːt/
attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness
From this reading “There’s something up there that looks like a hole—a kind of crack in the rock,” rejoined Cute.
extendverbUS /ɪkˈstend/
extend in scope or range or area
From this reading “It is a fissure in the cliff, and may extend through to the other side,” remarked Percy Vere.
fissurenounUS /ˈfɪʃər/
a long narrow depression in a surface
From this reading “It is a fissure in the cliff, and may extend through to the other side,” remarked Percy Vere.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “There isn’t any way to get up there on this side,” he said; “but there may be on the other.”
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
someone employed to conduct others
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
half-way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
an opening into or through something
From this reading “There’s something up there that looks like a hole—a kind of crack in the rock,” rejoined Cute.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “There’s something up there that looks like a hole—a kind of crack in the rock,” rejoined Cute.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It is a fissure in the cliff, and may extend through to the other side,” remarked Percy Vere.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There isn’t any way to get up there on this side,” he said; “but there may be on the other.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It is a fissure in the cliff, and may extend through to the other side,” remarked Percy Vere.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading “There’s something up there that looks like a hole—a kind of crack in the rock,” rejoined Cute.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “There’s something up there that looks like a hole—a kind of crack in the rock,” rejoined Cute.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
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 The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading “There’s something up there that looks like a hole—a kind of crack in the rock,” rejoined Cute.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “There isn’t any way to get up there on this side,” he said; “but there may be on the other.”
muzzlenounUS /ˈmʌzəl/
the open circular discharging end of a gun
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “There isn’t any way to get up there on this side,” he said; “but there may be on the other.”
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading “There isn’t any way to get up there on this side,” he said; “but there may be on the other.”
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
PercynounUS /ˈpɜːrsi/
United States writer whose novels explored human alienation (1916-1990)
From this reading “It is a fissure in the cliff, and may extend through to the other side,” remarked Percy Vere.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
past form of “rejoin” — join again
From this reading “There’s something up there that looks like a hole—a kind of crack in the rock,” rejoined Cute.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading “It is a fissure in the cliff, and may extend through to the other side,” remarked Percy Vere.
-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading “There’s something up there that looks like a hole—a kind of crack in the rock,” rejoined Cute.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “There isn’t any way to get up there on this side,” he said; “but there may be on the other.”
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading “There isn’t any way to get up there on this side,” he said; “but there may be on the other.”
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “There’s something up there that looks like a hole—a kind of crack in the rock,” rejoined Cute.
stridesnounUS /straɪdz/
plural of “stride” — a step in walking or running
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
surveynounUS /sərˈveɪ/
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “There’s something up there that looks like a hole—a kind of crack in the rock,” rejoined Cute.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “There isn’t any way to get up there on this side,” he said; “but there may be on the other.”
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s something up there that looks like a hole—a kind of crack in the rock,” rejoined Cute.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “There isn’t any way to get up there on this side,” he said; “but there may be on the other.”
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading “It is a fissure in the cliff, and may extend through to the other side,” remarked Percy Vere.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “There isn’t any way to get up there on this side,” he said; “but there may be on the other.”
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “There isn’t any way to get up there on this side,” he said; “but there may be on the other.”
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
Vere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is a fissure in the cliff, and may extend through to the other side,” remarked Percy Vere.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading “There isn’t any way to get up there on this side,” he said; “but there may be on the other.”
in or at the place that
From this reading The rapid strides of the old guide carried him half-way across the little valley between the cliffs: then he paused suddenly, and resting the butt of his long rifle upon the ground, and leaning his hands upon its muzzle, took a critical survey of the cliff, where the apparitions had appeared upon the previous night.
