used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They wished to make a voyage up the mysterious river as far as the first cataract.
advantagesnounUS /ædˈvæntɪdʒɪz/
plural of “advantage” — the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading They found on investigation that there were two ways of ascending the Nile, and each had its advantages and disadvantages.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ASCENDING THE NILE.--SIGHTS AND SCENES ON THE RIVER.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They wished to make a voyage up the mysterious river as far as the first cataract.
ASCENDINGadjectiveUS /əˈsendɪŋ/
moving or going or growing upward
From this reading ASCENDING THE NILE.--SIGHTS AND SCENES ON THE RIVER.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The time at their disposal did not permit them to plan a more extended journey.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Having explored Cairo and its neighborhood to their satisfaction, our friends turned their attention to the Nile.
CaironounUS /ˈkaɪroʊ/
a town at the southern tip of Illinois at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers
From this reading Having explored Cairo and its neighborhood to their satisfaction, our friends turned their attention to the Nile.
cataractnounUS /ˈkætərækt/
an eye disease that involves the clouding or opacification of the natural lens of the eye
From this reading They wished to make a voyage up the mysterious river as far as the first cataract.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The time at their disposal did not permit them to plan a more extended journey.
disadvantagesnounUS /ˌdɪsədˈvæntɪdʒɪz/
plural of “disadvantage” — the quality of having an inferior or less favorable position
From this reading They found on investigation that there were two ways of ascending the Nile, and each had its advantages and disadvantages.
disposalnounUS /dɪˈspoʊzəl/
the power to use something or someone
From this reading The time at their disposal did not permit them to plan a more extended journey.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading They found on investigation that there were two ways of ascending the Nile, and each had its advantages and disadvantages.
exploredverbUS /ɪkˈsplɔːrd/
past form of “explore” — inquire into
From this reading Having explored Cairo and its neighborhood to their satisfaction, our friends turned their attention to the Nile.
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading The time at their disposal did not permit them to plan a more extended journey.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading They wished to make a voyage up the mysterious river as far as the first cataract.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading They wished to make a voyage up the mysterious river as far as the first cataract.
set up or found
From this reading They found on investigation that there were two ways of ascending the Nile, and each had its advantages and disadvantages.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Having explored Cairo and its neighborhood to their satisfaction, our friends turned their attention to the Nile.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They found on investigation that there were two ways of ascending the Nile, and each had its advantages and disadvantages.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having explored Cairo and its neighborhood to their satisfaction, our friends turned their attention to the Nile.
investigationnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃən/
an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading They found on investigation that there were two ways of ascending the Nile, and each had its advantages and disadvantages.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Having explored Cairo and its neighborhood to their satisfaction, our friends turned their attention to the Nile.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading The time at their disposal did not permit them to plan a more extended journey.
engage in
From this reading They wished to make a voyage up the mysterious river as far as the first cataract.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The time at their disposal did not permit them to plan a more extended journey.
of an obscure nature
From this reading They wished to make a voyage up the mysterious river as far as the first cataract.
neighborhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading Having explored Cairo and its neighborhood to their satisfaction, our friends turned their attention to the Nile.
NILEnounUS /naɪl/
the world's longest river (4150 miles); flows northward through eastern Africa into the Mediterranean; the Nile River valley in Egypt was the site of the world's first great civilization
From this reading ASCENDING THE NILE.--SIGHTS AND SCENES ON THE RIVER.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The time at their disposal did not permit them to plan a more extended journey.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They found on investigation that there were two ways of ascending the Nile, and each had its advantages and disadvantages.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ASCENDING THE NILE.--SIGHTS AND SCENES ON THE RIVER.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Having explored Cairo and its neighborhood to their satisfaction, our friends turned their attention to the Nile.
a legal document giving official permission to do something
From this reading The time at their disposal did not permit them to plan a more extended journey.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading The time at their disposal did not permit them to plan a more extended journey.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading ASCENDING THE NILE.--SIGHTS AND SCENES ON THE RIVER.
the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation
From this reading Having explored Cairo and its neighborhood to their satisfaction, our friends turned their attention to the Nile.
plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs
From this reading ASCENDING THE NILE.--SIGHTS AND SCENES ON THE RIVER.
SIGHTSnounUS /saɪts/
an optical instrument for aiding the eye in aiming, as on a firearm or surveying instrument
From this reading ASCENDING THE NILE.--SIGHTS AND SCENES ON THE RIVER.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They found on investigation that there were two ways of ascending the Nile, and each had its advantages and disadvantages.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ASCENDING THE NILE.--SIGHTS AND SCENES ON THE RIVER.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Having explored Cairo and its neighborhood to their satisfaction, our friends turned their attention to the Nile.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The time at their disposal did not permit them to plan a more extended journey.
in or at that place or location
From this reading They found on investigation that there were two ways of ascending the Nile, and each had its advantages and disadvantages.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They wished to make a voyage up the mysterious river as far as the first cataract.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The time at their disposal did not permit them to plan a more extended journey.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Having explored Cairo and its neighborhood to their satisfaction, our friends turned their attention to the Nile.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Having explored Cairo and its neighborhood to their satisfaction, our friends turned their attention to the Nile.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading They found on investigation that there were two ways of ascending the Nile, and each had its advantages and disadvantages.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They wished to make a voyage up the mysterious river as far as the first cataract.
an act of traveling by water
From this reading They wished to make a voyage up the mysterious river as far as the first cataract.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading They found on investigation that there were two ways of ascending the Nile, and each had its advantages and disadvantages.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They found on investigation that there were two ways of ascending the Nile, and each had its advantages and disadvantages.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading They wished to make a voyage up the mysterious river as far as the first cataract.
