used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading “I’ve twisted my ankle, Hugh,” he said ruefully, gazing up where Hugh knelt on the ledge above him.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
Alec
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When he attempted to rise, an excruciating stab of pain in his left ankle gave warning of a bad sprain.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
anklenounUS /ˈæŋkəl/
a gliding joint between the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the proximal end of the talus
From this reading When he attempted to rise, an excruciating stab of pain in his left ankle gave warning of a bad sprain.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading When he attempted to rise, an excruciating stab of pain in his left ankle gave warning of a bad sprain.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading When he attempted to rise, an excruciating stab of pain in his left ankle gave warning of a bad sprain.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
have
From this reading “I can’t bear my weight on it just now.”
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I can’t bear my weight on it just now.”
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
a steep high face of rock
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
clingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
crevicesnounUS /ˈkrevəsɪz/
plural of “crevice” — a long narrow depression in a surface
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
descendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsendɪŋ/
coming down or downward
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
excruciatingadjectiveUS /ɪkˈskruːʃieɪtɪŋ/
extremely painful
From this reading When he attempted to rise, an excruciating stab of pain in his left ankle gave warning of a bad sprain.
promote over another
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
flagsnounUS /flæɡz/
plural of “flag” — emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading When he attempted to rise, an excruciating stab of pain in his left ankle gave warning of a bad sprain.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading “I’ve twisted my ankle, Hugh,” he said ruefully, gazing up where Hugh knelt on the ledge above him.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he attempted to rise, an excruciating stab of pain in his left ankle gave warning of a bad sprain.
headlongadverbUS /ˈhedlɔːŋ/
with the head foremost
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I’ve twisted my ankle, Hugh,” he said ruefully, gazing up where Hugh knelt on the ledge above him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
Hugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I can’t bear my weight on it just now.”
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ve twisted my ankle, Hugh,” he said ruefully, gazing up where Hugh knelt on the ledge above him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I can’t bear my weight on it just now.”
and nothing more
From this reading “I can’t bear my weight on it just now.”
kneltverbUS /nelt/
inflected form of “kneel” — rest one's weight on one's knees
From this reading “I’ve twisted my ankle, Hugh,” he said ruefully, gazing up where Hugh knelt on the ledge above him.
ledgenounUS /ledʒ/
a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
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 When he attempted to rise, an excruciating stab of pain in his left ankle gave warning of a bad sprain.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
misfortunenounUS /mɪˈsfɔːrtʃən/
unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “I’ve twisted my ankle, Hugh,” he said ruefully, gazing up where Hugh knelt on the ledge above him.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “I can’t bear my weight on it just now.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “I’ve twisted my ankle, Hugh,” he said ruefully, gazing up where Hugh knelt on the ledge above him.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
overhungverbUS /oʊvərˈhʌŋ/
inflected form of “overhang” — project over
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
overtakenverbUS /ˈoʊvərteɪkən/
inflected form of “overtake” — catch up with and possibly overtake
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading When he attempted to rise, an excruciating stab of pain in his left ankle gave warning of a bad sprain.
a course of conduct
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
move upward
From this reading When he attempted to rise, an excruciating stab of pain in his left ankle gave warning of a bad sprain.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
ruefullyadverbUS /ˈruːfəli/
in a rueful manner
From this reading “I’ve twisted my ankle, Hugh,” he said ruefully, gazing up where Hugh knelt on the ledge above him.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I’ve twisted my ankle, Hugh,” he said ruefully, gazing up where Hugh knelt on the ledge above him.
saplingsnounUS /ˈsæplɪŋz/
plural of “sapling” — young tree
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
savingnounUS /ˈseɪvɪŋ/
an act of economizing; reduction in cost
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
in the near future
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
sprainverbUS /spreɪn/
twist suddenly so as to sprain
From this reading When he attempted to rise, an excruciating stab of pain in his left ankle gave warning of a bad sprain.
stabverbUS /stæb/
use a knife on
From this reading When he attempted to rise, an excruciating stab of pain in his left ankle gave warning of a bad sprain.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
tumblingnounUS /ˈtʌmbəlɪŋ/
the gymnastic moves of an acrobat
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading A misfortune had indeed overtaken Alec and Hugh soon after they had turned the tide in favor of the Blue Army.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading “I’ve twisted my ankle, Hugh,” he said ruefully, gazing up where Hugh knelt on the ledge above him.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “I’ve twisted my ankle, Hugh,” he said ruefully, gazing up where Hugh knelt on the ledge above him.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
a message informing of danger
From this reading When he attempted to rise, an excruciating stab of pain in his left ankle gave warning of a bad sprain.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading “I can’t bear my weight on it just now.”
at the time that
From this reading When he attempted to rise, an excruciating stab of pain in his left ankle gave warning of a bad sprain.
in or at the place that
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading In descending from a ledge of rock that overhung the valley to a lower level where a path wound along the side of the hill, Alec, carrying his flags in one hand, and clinging to saplings that grew in the crevices of the rock with the other, slipped and fell, barely saving himself from tumbling headlong over the cliff.
