used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She wore a long cloak, and bent her head and humped her shoulders over a small bundle which she hugged tight to her breast.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She had hoped to reach the big house before it was dark.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading She wore a long cloak, and bent her head and humped her shoulders over a small bundle which she hugged tight to her breast.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had hoped to reach the big house before it was dark.
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading But a north-east gale was blowing, and it caught up the loose tops of the sand-hills and carried them in streaming clouds along the flats and made walking difficult.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading She wore a long cloak, and bent her head and humped her shoulders over a small bundle which she hugged tight to her breast.
bristlingverbUS /ˈbrɪsəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “bristle” — be in a state of movement or action
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
bundlenounUS /ˈbʌndəl/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading She wore a long cloak, and bent her head and humped her shoulders over a small bundle which she hugged tight to her breast.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But a north-east gale was blowing, and it caught up the loose tops of the sand-hills and carried them in streaming clouds along the flats and made walking difficult.
Carne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading But a north-east gale was blowing, and it caught up the loose tops of the sand-hills and carried them in streaming clouds along the flats and made walking difficult.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading But a north-east gale was blowing, and it caught up the loose tops of the sand-hills and carried them in streaming clouds along the flats and made walking difficult.
anything that covers or conceals
From this reading She wore a long cloak, and bent her head and humped her shoulders over a small bundle which she hugged tight to her breast.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading But a north-east gale was blowing, and it caught up the loose tops of the sand-hills and carried them in streaming clouds along the flats and made walking difficult.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading She had hoped to reach the big house before it was dark.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading But a north-east gale was blowing, and it caught up the loose tops of the sand-hills and carried them in streaming clouds along the flats and made walking difficult.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
driftverbUS /drɪft/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
flatsnounUS /flæts/
footwear (shoes or slippers) with no heel (or a very low heel)
From this reading But a north-east gale was blowing, and it caught up the loose tops of the sand-hills and carried them in streaming clouds along the flats and made walking difficult.
moving swiftly
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
galenounUS /ɡeɪl/
a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
From this reading But a north-east gale was blowing, and it caught up the loose tops of the sand-hills and carried them in streaming clouds along the flats and made walking difficult.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had hoped to reach the big house before it was dark.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She wore a long cloak, and bent her head and humped her shoulders over a small bundle which she hugged tight to her breast.
to a considerable degree
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She wore a long cloak, and bent her head and humped her shoulders over a small bundle which she hugged tight to her breast.
high-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading She had hoped to reach the big house before it was dark.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading She had hoped to reach the big house before it was dark.
huggedverbUS /hʌɡd/
inflected form of “hug” — hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness
From this reading She wore a long cloak, and bent her head and humped her shoulders over a small bundle which she hugged tight to her breast.
humpedadjectiveUS /hʌmpt/
characteristic of or suffering from kyphosis, an abnormality of the vertebral column
From this reading She wore a long cloak, and bent her head and humped her shoulders over a small bundle which she hugged tight to her breast.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She had hoped to reach the big house before it was dark.
and nothing more
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
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 She wore a long cloak, and bent her head and humped her shoulders over a small bundle which she hugged tight to her breast.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading But a north-east gale was blowing, and it caught up the loose tops of the sand-hills and carried them in streaming clouds along the flats and made walking difficult.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading But a north-east gale was blowing, and it caught up the loose tops of the sand-hills and carried them in streaming clouds along the flats and made walking difficult.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
a particular point in time
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
not any; not one
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
north-eastadverbUS /ˌnɔːrˈθiːst/
to, toward, or in the northeast
From this reading But a north-east gale was blowing, and it caught up the loose tops of the sand-hills and carried them in streaming clouds along the flats and made walking difficult.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She wore a long cloak, and bent her head and humped her shoulders over a small bundle which she hugged tight to her breast.
particlesnounUS /ˈpɑːrtəkəlz/
plural of “particle” — (nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
pillarnounUS /ˈpɪlər/
a fundamental principle or practice
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading She had hoped to reach the big house before it was dark.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
sand-hills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a north-east gale was blowing, and it caught up the loose tops of the sand-hills and carried them in streaming clouds along the flats and made walking difficult.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She wore a long cloak, and bent her head and humped her shoulders over a small bundle which she hugged tight to her breast.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading She wore a long cloak, and bent her head and humped her shoulders over a small bundle which she hugged tight to her breast.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She wore a long cloak, and bent her head and humped her shoulders over a small bundle which she hugged tight to her breast.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
streamingadjectiveUS /ˈstriːmɪŋ/
exuding a bodily fluid in profuse amounts
From this reading But a north-east gale was blowing, and it caught up the loose tops of the sand-hills and carried them in streaming clouds along the flats and made walking difficult.
tanglenounUS /ˈtæŋɡəl/
a twisted and tangled mass that is highly interwoven
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But a north-east gale was blowing, and it caught up the loose tops of the sand-hills and carried them in streaming clouds along the flats and made walking difficult.
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading She wore a long cloak, and bent her head and humped her shoulders over a small bundle which she hugged tight to her breast.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She wore a long cloak, and bent her head and humped her shoulders over a small bundle which she hugged tight to her breast.
topsadjectiveUS /tɑːps/
of the highest quality
From this reading But a north-east gale was blowing, and it caught up the loose tops of the sand-hills and carried them in streaming clouds along the flats and made walking difficult.
transformverbUS /trænˈsfɔːrm/
subject to a mathematical transformation
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
trudgedverbUS /trʌdʒd/
past form of “trudge” — walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But a north-east gale was blowing, and it caught up the loose tops of the sand-hills and carried them in streaming clouds along the flats and made walking difficult.
the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading But a north-east gale was blowing, and it caught up the loose tops of the sand-hills and carried them in streaming clouds along the flats and made walking difficult.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had hoped to reach the big house before it was dark.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She wore a long cloak, and bent her head and humped her shoulders over a small bundle which she hugged tight to her breast.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading A woman trudged heavily along the firm damp sand just below the bristling tangle of high-water mark, in the direction of Carne.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading She wore a long cloak, and bent her head and humped her shoulders over a small bundle which she hugged tight to her breast.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The drift rose no higher than her waist; but if she stood for a moment to rest, the flying particles immediately set to work to transform her into a pillar of sand.
