Chapter IV · The Dam Across the Creek

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading He had a more difficult problem, which was, how to descend in safety to the plain below.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Down the slanting shelf to the face of the cliff, he slowly groped his way; and then lowered himself inch by inch down the rocks.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Often he was forced to guess what was below him, and, at a venture, drop himself down where he believed he would find a crevice large enough for his feet.

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading Often he was forced to guess what was below him, and, at a venture, drop himself down where he believed he would find a crevice large enough for his feet.

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading He had a more difficult problem, which was, how to descend in safety to the plain below.

a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading Sometimes he was forced to cling with his hands to a bush or sapling while he swung to and fro in search of a footing.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Down the slanting shelf to the face of the cliff, he slowly groped his way; and then lowered himself inch by inch down the rocks.

a steep high face of rock

From this reading Down the slanting shelf to the face of the cliff, he slowly groped his way; and then lowered himself inch by inch down the rocks.

come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading Sometimes he was forced to cling with his hands to a bush or sapling while he swung to and fro in search of a footing.

a long narrow depression in a surface

From this reading Often he was forced to guess what was below him, and, at a venture, drop himself down where he believed he would find a crevice large enough for his feet.

argue with one another

From this reading Ira did not stop to debate the question there on the mountain top.

move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way

From this reading He had a more difficult problem, which was, how to descend in safety to the plain below.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Ira did not stop to debate the question there on the mountain top.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading He had a more difficult problem, which was, how to descend in safety to the plain below.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Down the slanting shelf to the face of the cliff, he slowly groped his way; and then lowered himself inch by inch down the rocks.

let fall to the ground

From this reading Often he was forced to guess what was below him, and, at a venture, drop himself down where he believed he would find a crevice large enough for his feet.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading Often he was forced to guess what was below him, and, at a venture, drop himself down where he believed he would find a crevice large enough for his feet.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Down the slanting shelf to the face of the cliff, he slowly groped his way; and then lowered himself inch by inch down the rocks.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Often he was forced to guess what was below him, and, at a venture, drop himself down where he believed he would find a crevice large enough for his feet.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading Often he was forced to guess what was below him, and, at a venture, drop himself down where he believed he would find a crevice large enough for his feet.

status with respect to the relations between people or groups

From this reading Sometimes he was forced to cling with his hands to a bush or sapling while he swung to and fro in search of a footing.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Often he was forced to guess what was below him, and, at a venture, drop himself down where he believed he would find a crevice large enough for his feet.

produced by or subjected to forcing

From this reading Sometimes he was forced to cling with his hands to a bush or sapling while he swung to and fro in search of a footing.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Sometimes he was forced to cling with his hands to a bush or sapling while he swung to and fro in search of a footing.

past form of “grope” — feel about uncertainly or blindly

From this reading Down the slanting shelf to the face of the cliff, he slowly groped his way; and then lowered himself inch by inch down the rocks.

expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading Often he was forced to guess what was below him, and, at a venture, drop himself down where he believed he would find a crevice large enough for his feet.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He had a more difficult problem, which was, how to descend in safety to the plain below.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading Sometimes he was forced to cling with his hands to a bush or sapling while he swung to and fro in search of a footing.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He had a more difficult problem, which was, how to descend in safety to the plain below.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Often he was forced to guess what was below him, and, at a venture, drop himself down where he believed he would find a crevice large enough for his feet.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Down the slanting shelf to the face of the cliff, he slowly groped his way; and then lowered himself inch by inch down the rocks.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Down the slanting shelf to the face of the cliff, he slowly groped his way; and then lowered himself inch by inch down the rocks.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He had a more difficult problem, which was, how to descend in safety to the plain below.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading He had a more difficult problem, which was, how to descend in safety to the plain below.

a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot

From this reading Down the slanting shelf to the face of the cliff, he slowly groped his way; and then lowered himself inch by inch down the rocks.

a militant organization of Irish nationalists who used terrorism and guerilla warfare in an effort to drive British forces from Northern Ireland and achieve a united independent Ireland

From this reading Ira did not stop to debate the question there on the mountain top.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Often he was forced to guess what was below him, and, at a venture, drop himself down where he believed he would find a crevice large enough for his feet.

below the surround or below the normal position

From this reading Down the slanting shelf to the face of the cliff, he slowly groped his way; and then lowered himself inch by inch down the rocks.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading He had a more difficult problem, which was, how to descend in safety to the plain below.

a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading Ira did not stop to debate the question there on the mountain top.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Ira did not stop to debate the question there on the mountain top.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Down the slanting shelf to the face of the cliff, he slowly groped his way; and then lowered himself inch by inch down the rocks.

many times at short intervals

From this reading Often he was forced to guess what was below him, and, at a venture, drop himself down where he believed he would find a crevice large enough for his feet.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Ira did not stop to debate the question there on the mountain top.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Sometimes he was forced to cling with his hands to a bush or sapling while he swung to and fro in search of a footing.

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading He had a more difficult problem, which was, how to descend in safety to the plain below.

a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

From this reading He had a more difficult problem, which was, how to descend in safety to the plain below.

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading Ira did not stop to debate the question there on the mountain top.

plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Down the slanting shelf to the face of the cliff, he slowly groped his way; and then lowered himself inch by inch down the rocks.

the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions

From this reading He had a more difficult problem, which was, how to descend in safety to the plain below.

young tree

From this reading Sometimes he was forced to cling with his hands to a bush or sapling while he swung to and fro in search of a footing.

try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of

From this reading Sometimes he was forced to cling with his hands to a bush or sapling while he swung to and fro in search of a footing.

A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.

From this reading Down the slanting shelf to the face of the cliff, he slowly groped his way; and then lowered himself inch by inch down the rocks.

having an oblique or slanted direction

From this reading Down the slanting shelf to the face of the cliff, he slowly groped his way; and then lowered himself inch by inch down the rocks.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading Down the slanting shelf to the face of the cliff, he slowly groped his way; and then lowered himself inch by inch down the rocks.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading Sometimes he was forced to cling with his hands to a bush or sapling while he swung to and fro in search of a footing.

come to a halt, stop moving

From this reading Ira did not stop to debate the question there on the mountain top.

inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting

From this reading Sometimes he was forced to cling with his hands to a bush or sapling while he swung to and fro in search of a footing.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Ira did not stop to debate the question there on the mountain top.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Down the slanting shelf to the face of the cliff, he slowly groped his way; and then lowered himself inch by inch down the rocks.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Ira did not stop to debate the question there on the mountain top.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Ira did not stop to debate the question there on the mountain top.

the upper part of anything

From this reading Ira did not stop to debate the question there on the mountain top.

any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome

From this reading Often he was forced to guess what was below him, and, at a venture, drop himself down where he believed he would find a crevice large enough for his feet.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading He had a more difficult problem, which was, how to descend in safety to the plain below.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Down the slanting shelf to the face of the cliff, he slowly groped his way; and then lowered himself inch by inch down the rocks.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Often he was forced to guess what was below him, and, at a venture, drop himself down where he believed he would find a crevice large enough for his feet.

in or at the place that

From this reading Often he was forced to guess what was below him, and, at a venture, drop himself down where he believed he would find a crevice large enough for his feet.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He had a more difficult problem, which was, how to descend in safety to the plain below.

during the time that

From this reading Sometimes he was forced to cling with his hands to a bush or sapling while he swung to and fro in search of a footing.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Sometimes he was forced to cling with his hands to a bush or sapling while he swung to and fro in search of a footing.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Often he was forced to guess what was below him, and, at a venture, drop himself down where he believed he would find a crevice large enough for his feet.