used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The wooden decoys had been anchored with the live ducks swimming among them, and the world began to awake.
anchoredverbUS /ˈæŋkərd/
past form of “anchor” — fix firmly and stably
From this reading The wooden decoys had been anchored with the live ducks swimming among them, and the world began to awake.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
artificialadjectiveUS /ˌɑːrtəˈfɪʃəl/
contrived by art rather than nature
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading The wooden decoys had been anchored with the live ducks swimming among them, and the world began to awake.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The wooden decoys had been anchored with the live ducks swimming among them, and the world began to awake.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The wooden decoys had been anchored with the live ducks swimming among them, and the world began to awake.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
boatmannounUS /ˈboʊtmən/
someone who drives or rides in a boat
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading He drew a long breath of contentment, and waited.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
cavalrynounUS /ˈkævəlri/
troops trained to fight on horseback
From this reading The first pale streamers of dawn soon streaked the east, and the wind charged cuttingly like drawn sabers of galloping cavalry.
of a particle or body or system; having a net amount of positive or negative electric charge
From this reading The first pale streamers of dawn soon streaked the east, and the wind charged cuttingly like drawn sabers of galloping cavalry.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
contentmentnounUS /kənˈtentmənt/
happiness with one's situation in life
From this reading He drew a long breath of contentment, and waited.
cuttinglyadverb
in an intentionally unkind way
From this reading The first pale streamers of dawn soon streaked the east, and the wind charged cuttingly like drawn sabers of galloping cavalry.
the first light of day
From this reading The first pale streamers of dawn soon streaked the east, and the wind charged cuttingly like drawn sabers of galloping cavalry.
daybreaknounUS /ˈdeɪbreɪk/
the first light of day
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
decoysnounUS /ˈdiːkɔɪz/
plural of “decoy” — a beguiler who leads someone into danger (usually as part of a plot)
From this reading The wooden decoys had been anchored with the live ducks swimming among them, and the world began to awake.
dotsnounUS /dɑːts/
plural of “dot” — a very small circular shape
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The first pale streamers of dawn soon streaked the east, and the wind charged cuttingly like drawn sabers of galloping cavalry.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading He drew a long breath of contentment, and waited.
ducksnounUS /dʌks/
plural of “duck” — small wild or domesticated web-footed broad-billed swimming bird usually having a depressed body and short legs
From this reading The wooden decoys had been anchored with the live ducks swimming among them, and the world began to awake.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading The first pale streamers of dawn soon streaked the east, and the wind charged cuttingly like drawn sabers of galloping cavalry.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first pale streamers of dawn soon streaked the east, and the wind charged cuttingly like drawn sabers of galloping cavalry.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
gallopingverbUS /ˈɡæləpɪŋ/
-ing form of “gallop” — ride at a galloping pace
From this reading The first pale streamers of dawn soon streaked the east, and the wind charged cuttingly like drawn sabers of galloping cavalry.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
someone employed to conduct others
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The wooden decoys had been anchored with the live ducks swimming among them, and the world began to awake.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
initiationnounUS /ˌɪnɪʃiˈeɪʃən/
a formal entry into an organization or position or office
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The first pale streamers of dawn soon streaked the east, and the wind charged cuttingly like drawn sabers of galloping cavalry.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading The wooden decoys had been anchored with the live ducks swimming among them, and the world began to awake.
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 He drew a long breath of contentment, and waited.
luxuriesnounUS /ˈlʌɡʒəriz/
plural of “luxury” — something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
mistsnounUS /mɪsts/
plural of “mist” — a thin fog with condensation near the ground
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
northernadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrðərn/
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The first pale streamers of dawn soon streaked the east, and the wind charged cuttingly like drawn sabers of galloping cavalry.
and nothing more
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading The first pale streamers of dawn soon streaked the east, and the wind charged cuttingly like drawn sabers of galloping cavalry.
rawadjectiveUS /rɑː/
(used especially of commodities) being unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
rosinessnoun
a rosy color (especially in the cheeks) taken as a sign of good health
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
sabersnounUS /ˈseɪbərz/
plural of “saber” — a fencing sword with a v-shaped blade and a slightly curved handle
From this reading The first pale streamers of dawn soon streaked the east, and the wind charged cuttingly like drawn sabers of galloping cavalry.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
in the near future
From this reading The first pale streamers of dawn soon streaked the east, and the wind charged cuttingly like drawn sabers of galloping cavalry.
spreadingnounUS /ˈspredɪŋ/
process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
streakedadjectiveUS /striːkt/
marked with or as if with stripes or linear discolorations
From this reading The first pale streamers of dawn soon streaked the east, and the wind charged cuttingly like drawn sabers of galloping cavalry.
streamersnounUS /ˈstriːmərz/
plural of “streamer” — light that streams
From this reading The first pale streamers of dawn soon streaked the east, and the wind charged cuttingly like drawn sabers of galloping cavalry.
swimmingnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/
the act of swimming
From this reading The wooden decoys had been anchored with the live ducks swimming among them, and the world began to awake.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The wooden decoys had been anchored with the live ducks swimming among them, and the world began to awake.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The wooden decoys had been anchored with the live ducks swimming among them, and the world began to awake.
trailingnounUS /ˈtreɪlɪŋ/
the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading He drew a long breath of contentment, and waited.
wedgenounUS /wedʒ/
any shape that is triangular in cross section
From this reading Then came the trailing of gray and blue and green mists, and, following the finger of the silent boatman, he made out in the northern sky a slender wedge of black dots, against the spreading rosiness of the horizon.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
at the time that
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The first pale streamers of dawn soon streaked the east, and the wind charged cuttingly like drawn sabers of galloping cavalry.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But, when he went out for his initiation, in the raw blackness before daybreak, and lay in the blind, with only his guide for a companion, he felt far away from artificial luxuries.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading The wooden decoys had been anchored with the live ducks swimming among them, and the world began to awake.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The wooden decoys had been anchored with the live ducks swimming among them, and the world began to awake.
