used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
AlineverbUS /əˈlaɪn/
place in a line or arrange so as to be parallel or straight
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Ian’s plan was to swim or ford the swollen river at the Weal, the long pool-like stretch, of the Tees,--and then take the track to Garrigill.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The snow had more or less melted and the day was clear, so that they could see far behind them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading When, therefore, they reached a place where they could clearly see two miles and no one following, they slackened pace, so as to give their horses every chance.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The snow had more or less melted and the day was clear, so that they could see far behind them.
without doubt or question
From this reading When, therefore, they reached a place where they could clearly see two miles and no one following, they slackened pace, so as to give their horses every chance.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They wondered what had delayed the pursuit, but felt sure it would come.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The snow had more or less melted and the day was clear, so that they could see far behind them.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The snow had more or less melted and the day was clear, so that they could see far behind them.
delayedadjectiveUS /dɪˈleɪd/
not as far along as normal in development
From this reading They wondered what had delayed the pursuit, but felt sure it would come.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading When, therefore, they reached a place where they could clearly see two miles and no one following, they slackened pace, so as to give their horses every chance.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The snow had more or less melted and the day was clear, so that they could see far behind them.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading They wondered what had delayed the pursuit, but felt sure it would come.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading When, therefore, they reached a place where they could clearly see two miles and no one following, they slackened pace, so as to give their horses every chance.
fordnounUS /fɔːrd/
United States film maker (1896-1973)
From this reading Ian’s plan was to swim or ford the swollen river at the Weal, the long pool-like stretch, of the Tees,--and then take the track to Garrigill.
Garrigill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ian’s plan was to swim or ford the swollen river at the Weal, the long pool-like stretch, of the Tees,--and then take the track to Garrigill.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading When, therefore, they reached a place where they could clearly see two miles and no one following, they slackened pace, so as to give their horses every chance.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They wondered what had delayed the pursuit, but felt sure it would come.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading When, therefore, they reached a place where they could clearly see two miles and no one following, they slackened pace, so as to give their horses every chance.
Ian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
Ian's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ian’s plan was to swim or ford the swollen river at the Weal, the long pool-like stretch, of the Tees,--and then take the track to Garrigill.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They wondered what had delayed the pursuit, but felt sure it would come.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading The snow had more or less melted and the day was clear, so that they could see far behind them.
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 Ian’s plan was to swim or ford the swollen river at the Weal, the long pool-like stretch, of the Tees,--and then take the track to Garrigill.
meltedadjectiveUS /ˈmeltəd/
changed from a solid to a liquid state
From this reading The snow had more or less melted and the day was clear, so that they could see far behind them.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading When, therefore, they reached a place where they could clearly see two miles and no one following, they slackened pace, so as to give their horses every chance.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The snow had more or less melted and the day was clear, so that they could see far behind them.
not any; not one
From this reading When, therefore, they reached a place where they could clearly see two miles and no one following, they slackened pace, so as to give their horses every chance.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ian’s plan was to swim or ford the swollen river at the Weal, the long pool-like stretch, of the Tees,--and then take the track to Garrigill.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When, therefore, they reached a place where they could clearly see two miles and no one following, they slackened pace, so as to give their horses every chance.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The snow had more or less melted and the day was clear, so that they could see far behind them.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading When, therefore, they reached a place where they could clearly see two miles and no one following, they slackened pace, so as to give their horses every chance.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading When, therefore, they reached a place where they could clearly see two miles and no one following, they slackened pace, so as to give their horses every chance.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading Ian’s plan was to swim or ford the swollen river at the Weal, the long pool-like stretch, of the Tees,--and then take the track to Garrigill.
pool-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ian’s plan was to swim or ford the swollen river at the Weal, the long pool-like stretch, of the Tees,--and then take the track to Garrigill.
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading They wondered what had delayed the pursuit, but felt sure it would come.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When, therefore, they reached a place where they could clearly see two miles and no one following, they slackened pace, so as to give their horses every chance.
sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Ian’s plan was to swim or ford the swollen river at the Weal, the long pool-like stretch, of the Tees,--and then take the track to Garrigill.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The snow had more or less melted and the day was clear, so that they could see far behind them.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
slackenedverbUS /ˈslækənd/
past form of “slacken” — become slow or slower
From this reading When, therefore, they reached a place where they could clearly see two miles and no one following, they slackened pace, so as to give their horses every chance.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading The snow had more or less melted and the day was clear, so that they could see far behind them.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The snow had more or less melted and the day was clear, so that they could see far behind them.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading Ian’s plan was to swim or ford the swollen river at the Weal, the long pool-like stretch, of the Tees,--and then take the track to Garrigill.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading They wondered what had delayed the pursuit, but felt sure it would come.
swimverbUS /swɪm/
travel through water
From this reading Ian’s plan was to swim or ford the swollen river at the Weal, the long pool-like stretch, of the Tees,--and then take the track to Garrigill.
swollenadjectiveUS /ˈswoʊlən/
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading Ian’s plan was to swim or ford the swollen river at the Weal, the long pool-like stretch, of the Tees,--and then take the track to Garrigill.
carry out
From this reading Ian’s plan was to swim or ford the swollen river at the Weal, the long pool-like stretch, of the Tees,--and then take the track to Garrigill.
TeesnounUS /tiːz/
plural of “tee” — the starting place for each hole on a golf course
From this reading Ian’s plan was to swim or ford the swollen river at the Weal, the long pool-like stretch, of the Tees,--and then take the track to Garrigill.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The snow had more or less melted and the day was clear, so that they could see far behind them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading When, therefore, they reached a place where they could clearly see two miles and no one following, they slackened pace, so as to give their horses every chance.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The snow had more or less melted and the day was clear, so that they could see far behind them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Ian’s plan was to swim or ford the swollen river at the Weal, the long pool-like stretch, of the Tees,--and then take the track to Garrigill.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading When, therefore, they reached a place where they could clearly see two miles and no one following, they slackened pace, so as to give their horses every chance.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading Ian’s plan was to swim or ford the swollen river at the Weal, the long pool-like stretch, of the Tees,--and then take the track to Garrigill.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading When, therefore, they reached a place where they could clearly see two miles and no one following, they slackened pace, so as to give their horses every chance.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A RIDE IN VAIN As Aline and Ian rode over the rough ground they kept turning back; but nothing was to be seen.
Wealnoun
a raised mark on the skin (as produced by the blow of a whip); characteristic of many allergic reactions
From this reading Ian’s plan was to swim or ford the swollen river at the Weal, the long pool-like stretch, of the Tees,--and then take the track to Garrigill.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading They wondered what had delayed the pursuit, but felt sure it would come.
at the time that
From this reading When, therefore, they reached a place where they could clearly see two miles and no one following, they slackened pace, so as to give their horses every chance.
in or at the place that
From this reading When, therefore, they reached a place where they could clearly see two miles and no one following, they slackened pace, so as to give their horses every chance.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading They wondered what had delayed the pursuit, but felt sure it would come.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They wondered what had delayed the pursuit, but felt sure it would come.
