used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am just completely tired out, I guess.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE HOUSE IN THE BLUFFS The cleft in the bluff was both narrow and steep, but it gave them passage.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The days and nights of excitement, coupled with lack of food and sleep, had left her physically weakened; now suddenly, even her will and courage both gave away.
bluffnounUS /blʌf/
a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading THE HOUSE IN THE BLUFFS The cleft in the bluff was both narrow and steep, but it gave them passage.
BLUFFSnounUS /blʌfs/
plural of “bluff” — a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading THE HOUSE IN THE BLUFFS The cleft in the bluff was both narrow and steep, but it gave them passage.
the two together, not just one
From this reading THE HOUSE IN THE BLUFFS The cleft in the bluff was both narrow and steep, but it gave them passage.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE HOUSE IN THE BLUFFS The cleft in the bluff was both narrow and steep, but it gave them passage.
cleftnounUS /kleft/
a split or indentation in something (as the palate or chin)
From this reading THE HOUSE IN THE BLUFFS The cleft in the bluff was both narrow and steep, but it gave them passage.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading "I am just completely tired out, I guess.
coupledadjectiveUS /ˈkʌpəld/
joined together especially in a pair or pairs
From this reading The days and nights of excitement, coupled with lack of food and sleep, had left her physically weakened; now suddenly, even her will and courage both gave away.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading The days and nights of excitement, coupled with lack of food and sleep, had left her physically weakened; now suddenly, even her will and courage both gave away.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The days and nights of excitement, coupled with lack of food and sleep, had left her physically weakened; now suddenly, even her will and courage both gave away.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
divisible by two
From this reading The days and nights of excitement, coupled with lack of food and sleep, had left her physically weakened; now suddenly, even her will and courage both gave away.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading The days and nights of excitement, coupled with lack of food and sleep, had left her physically weakened; now suddenly, even her will and courage both gave away.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading "No, it is nothing," she explained in a whisper.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading The days and nights of excitement, coupled with lack of food and sleep, had left her physically weakened; now suddenly, even her will and courage both gave away.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading THE HOUSE IN THE BLUFFS The cleft in the bluff was both narrow and steep, but it gave them passage.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading "I am just completely tired out, I guess.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The days and nights of excitement, coupled with lack of food and sleep, had left her physically weakened; now suddenly, even her will and courage both gave away.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE HOUSE IN THE BLUFFS The cleft in the bluff was both narrow and steep, but it gave them passage.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I am just completely tired out, I guess.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE HOUSE IN THE BLUFFS The cleft in the bluff was both narrow and steep, but it gave them passage.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "No, it is nothing," she explained in a whisper.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE HOUSE IN THE BLUFFS The cleft in the bluff was both narrow and steep, but it gave them passage.
and nothing more
From this reading "I am just completely tired out, I guess.
labouringadjective
doing arduous or unpleasant work
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading The days and nights of excitement, coupled with lack of food and sleep, had left her physically weakened; now suddenly, even her will and courage both gave away.
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 The days and nights of excitement, coupled with lack of food and sleep, had left her physically weakened; now suddenly, even her will and courage both gave away.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading THE HOUSE IN THE BLUFFS The cleft in the bluff was both narrow and steep, but it gave them passage.
Natalie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading The days and nights of excitement, coupled with lack of food and sleep, had left her physically weakened; now suddenly, even her will and courage both gave away.
not any; not one
From this reading "No, it is nothing," she explained in a whisper.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "No, it is nothing," she explained in a whisper.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The days and nights of excitement, coupled with lack of food and sleep, had left her physically weakened; now suddenly, even her will and courage both gave away.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The days and nights of excitement, coupled with lack of food and sleep, had left her physically weakened; now suddenly, even her will and courage both gave away.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "I am just completely tired out, I guess.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading THE HOUSE IN THE BLUFFS The cleft in the bluff was both narrow and steep, but it gave them passage.
physicallyadverbUS /ˈfɪzɪkəli/
in accord with physical laws
From this reading The days and nights of excitement, coupled with lack of food and sleep, had left her physically weakened; now suddenly, even her will and courage both gave away.
reservenounUS /rɪˈzɜːrv/
formality and propriety of manner
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading The days and nights of excitement, coupled with lack of food and sleep, had left her physically weakened; now suddenly, even her will and courage both gave away.
steepadjectiveUS /stiːp/
having a sharp inclination
From this reading THE HOUSE IN THE BLUFFS The cleft in the bluff was both narrow and steep, but it gave them passage.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HOUSE IN THE BLUFFS The cleft in the bluff was both narrow and steep, but it gave them passage.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading THE HOUSE IN THE BLUFFS The cleft in the bluff was both narrow and steep, but it gave them passage.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading "I am just completely tired out, I guess.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
the topmost one of two
From this reading At the upper end Natalie's reserve strength suddenly deserted her, and she sank down on the grass, labouring for breath, feeling unable to advance a step farther.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE HOUSE IN THE BLUFFS The cleft in the bluff was both narrow and steep, but it gave them passage.
weakenedadjectiveUS /ˈwiːkənd/
impaired by diminution
From this reading The days and nights of excitement, coupled with lack of food and sleep, had left her physically weakened; now suddenly, even her will and courage both gave away.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading "No, it is nothing," she explained in a whisper.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The days and nights of excitement, coupled with lack of food and sleep, had left her physically weakened; now suddenly, even her will and courage both gave away.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The days and nights of excitement, coupled with lack of food and sleep, had left her physically weakened; now suddenly, even her will and courage both gave away.
