used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For an hour he worked steadily, slowly driving back the growth and clearing the grassy sward that had attracted him; then he dragged the debris to the shore and was rid of it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
attackedverbUS /əˈtækt/
past form of “attack” — launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
From this reading Ax in hand, Hardrock attacked the tangle of dead and living trees that rimmed him in like a wall.
past form of “attract” — direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes
From this reading For an hour he worked steadily, slowly driving back the growth and clearing the grassy sward that had attracted him; then he dragged the debris to the shore and was rid of it.
AxnounUS /æks/
an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle
From this reading Ax in hand, Hardrock attacked the tangle of dead and living trees that rimmed him in like a wall.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading The storm was not clearing off, but was turning and bringing down a new and colder drift of rain and wind from the north.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The storm was not clearing off, but was turning and bringing down a new and colder drift of rain and wind from the north.
Callahan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading The storm was not clearing off, but was turning and bringing down a new and colder drift of rain and wind from the north.
colderadjectiveUS /ˈkoʊldər/
comparative of “cold” — having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The storm was not clearing off, but was turning and bringing down a new and colder drift of rain and wind from the north.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Ax in hand, Hardrock attacked the tangle of dead and living trees that rimmed him in like a wall.
debrisnounUS /dəˈbriː/
the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up
From this reading For an hour he worked steadily, slowly driving back the growth and clearing the grassy sward that had attracted him; then he dragged the debris to the shore and was rid of it.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The storm was not clearing off, but was turning and bringing down a new and colder drift of rain and wind from the north.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading For an hour he worked steadily, slowly driving back the growth and clearing the grassy sward that had attracted him; then he dragged the debris to the shore and was rid of it.
driftverbUS /drɪft/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading The storm was not clearing off, but was turning and bringing down a new and colder drift of rain and wind from the north.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading For an hour he worked steadily, slowly driving back the growth and clearing the grassy sward that had attracted him; then he dragged the debris to the shore and was rid of it.
edgedadjectiveUS /edʒd/
having a specified kind of border or edge
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For an hour he worked steadily, slowly driving back the growth and clearing the grassy sward that had attracted him; then he dragged the debris to the shore and was rid of it.
set up or found
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The storm was not clearing off, but was turning and bringing down a new and colder drift of rain and wind from the north.
grassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡræsi/
abounding in grass
From this reading For an hour he worked steadily, slowly driving back the growth and clearing the grassy sward that had attracted him; then he dragged the debris to the shore and was rid of it.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading For an hour he worked steadily, slowly driving back the growth and clearing the grassy sward that had attracted him; then he dragged the debris to the shore and was rid of it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For an hour he worked steadily, slowly driving back the growth and clearing the grassy sward that had attracted him; then he dragged the debris to the shore and was rid of it.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Ax in hand, Hardrock attacked the tangle of dead and living trees that rimmed him in like a wall.
Hardrock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
not accessible to view
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
HogverbUS /hɑːɡ/
take greedily; take more than one's share
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading For an hour he worked steadily, slowly driving back the growth and clearing the grassy sward that had attracted him; then he dragged the debris to the shore and was rid of it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ax in hand, Hardrock attacked the tangle of dead and living trees that rimmed him in like a wall.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Ax in hand, Hardrock attacked the tangle of dead and living trees that rimmed him in like a wall.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading Ax in hand, Hardrock attacked the tangle of dead and living trees that rimmed him in like a wall.
loadnounUS /loʊd/
weight to be borne or conveyed
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The storm was not clearing off, but was turning and bringing down a new and colder drift of rain and wind from the north.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The storm was not clearing off, but was turning and bringing down a new and colder drift of rain and wind from the north.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The storm was not clearing off, but was turning and bringing down a new and colder drift of rain and wind from the north.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
pulled-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The storm was not clearing off, but was turning and bringing down a new and colder drift of rain and wind from the north.
relieve from
From this reading For an hour he worked steadily, slowly driving back the growth and clearing the grassy sward that had attracted him; then he dragged the debris to the shore and was rid of it.
rimmedadjectiveUS /rɪmd/
having a rim or a rim of a specified kind
From this reading Ax in hand, Hardrock attacked the tangle of dead and living trees that rimmed him in like a wall.
sand-strip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
selectedadjectiveUS /səˈlektɪd/
chosen in preference to another
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading For an hour he worked steadily, slowly driving back the growth and clearing the grassy sward that had attracted him; then he dragged the debris to the shore and was rid of it.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading For an hour he worked steadily, slowly driving back the growth and clearing the grassy sward that had attracted him; then he dragged the debris to the shore and was rid of it.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading The storm was not clearing off, but was turning and bringing down a new and colder drift of rain and wind from the north.
suitedadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtɪd/
meant or adapted for an occasion or use
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
swardnounUS /swɔːrd/
surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots
From this reading For an hour he worked steadily, slowly driving back the growth and clearing the grassy sward that had attracted him; then he dragged the debris to the shore and was rid of it.
tanglenounUS /ˈtæŋɡəl/
a twisted and tangled mass that is highly interwoven
From this reading Ax in hand, Hardrock attacked the tangle of dead and living trees that rimmed him in like a wall.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
transportnounUS /trænˈspɔːrt/
something that serves as a means of transportation
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading The storm was not clearing off, but was turning and bringing down a new and colder drift of rain and wind from the north.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Hardrock Callahan passed along the narrow sand-strip that edged the north shore of Hog Island, until he found a slight opening among the trees that suited him.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Ax in hand, Hardrock attacked the tangle of dead and living trees that rimmed him in like a wall.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
in or at the place that
From this reading Then he came back to his pulled-up canoe and began to transport his load to the spot selected; the canoe itself he left hidden where it was.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The storm was not clearing off, but was turning and bringing down a new and colder drift of rain and wind from the north.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading For an hour he worked steadily, slowly driving back the growth and clearing the grassy sward that had attracted him; then he dragged the debris to the shore and was rid of it.
