used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
backedadjectiveUS /bækt/
having a back or backing, usually of a specified type
From this reading Twice they stopped and backed up and seemed to be returning on their tracks.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He tried to think where it must be, but was puzzled.
bumpingverbUS /ˈbʌmpɪŋ/
-ing form of “bump” — knock against with force or violence
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He tried to think where it must be, but was puzzled.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
curvesnounUS /kɜːrvz/
plural of “curve” — the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes
From this reading They seemed to have traveled part of the way in curves.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
at any time
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They seemed to have traveled part of the way in curves.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They seemed to have traveled part of the way in curves.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He tried to think where it must be, but was puzzled.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
levelsnounUS /ˈlevəlz/
plural of “level” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He tried to think where it must be, but was puzzled.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading They seemed to have traveled part of the way in curves.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading He tried to think where it must be, but was puzzled.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading Twice they stopped and backed up and seemed to be returning on their tracks.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They seemed to have traveled part of the way in curves.
slopping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
squirmed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Twice they stopped and backed up and seemed to be returning on their tracks.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Twice they stopped and backed up and seemed to be returning on their tracks.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading He tried to think where it must be, but was puzzled.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
tracksnounUS /træks/
plural of “track” — a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading Twice they stopped and backed up and seemed to be returning on their tracks.
traveledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
traveled over or through; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading They seemed to have traveled part of the way in curves.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading He tried to think where it must be, but was puzzled.
two times
From this reading Twice they stopped and backed up and seemed to be returning on their tracks.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Twice they stopped and backed up and seemed to be returning on their tracks.
precisely as stated
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading They seemed to have traveled part of the way in curves.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Now they were bumping down a bank, and slopping through water, not very deep, a small mountain stream on one of the levels.
in or at the place that
From this reading He tried to think where it must be, but was puzzled.
showing curiosity
From this reading He squirmed about and changed his position, staring into the darkness and wondering if this journey was ever to end.
