used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On Sunday, the fourth day, the rain ceased about the time of a sullen and misty dawn, and by ten o’clock in the morning the sun had triumphed.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading On Sunday, the fourth day, the rain ceased about the time of a sullen and misty dawn, and by ten o’clock in the morning the sun had triumphed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And yet no waterways appeared.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading And yet no waterways appeared.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
ashenadjectiveUS /ˈæʃən/
anemic looking from illness or emotion
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
brittleadjectiveUS /ˈbrɪtəl/
having little elasticity; hence easily cracked or fractured or snapped
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
cactusnounUS /ˈkæktəs/
any succulent plant of the family Cactaceae native chiefly to arid regions of the New World and usually having spines
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
candelabranounUS /ˌkændəˈlɑːbrə/
branched candlestick; ornamental; has several lights
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading On Sunday, the fourth day, the rain ceased about the time of a sullen and misty dawn, and by ten o’clock in the morning the sun had triumphed.
centraladjectiveUS /ˈsentrəl/
serving as an essential component
From this reading That dry land drank the water as it fell to reach the hidden channels by which it had drained for centuries into the central ooze of the M’ssente Swamp.
centuriesnounUS /ˈsentʃəriz/
plural of “century” — a period of 100 years
From this reading That dry land drank the water as it fell to reach the hidden channels by which it had drained for centuries into the central ooze of the M’ssente Swamp.
channelsnounUS /ˈtʃænəlz/
official routes of communication
From this reading That dry land drank the water as it fell to reach the hidden channels by which it had drained for centuries into the central ooze of the M’ssente Swamp.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
the first light of day
From this reading On Sunday, the fourth day, the rain ceased about the time of a sullen and misty dawn, and by ten o’clock in the morning the sun had triumphed.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading On Sunday, the fourth day, the rain ceased about the time of a sullen and misty dawn, and by ten o’clock in the morning the sun had triumphed.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
drainedadjectiveUS /dreɪnd/
emptied or exhausted of (as by drawing off e.g. water or other liquid)
From this reading That dry land drank the water as it fell to reach the hidden channels by which it had drained for centuries into the central ooze of the M’ssente Swamp.
inflected form of “drink” — take in liquids
From this reading That dry land drank the water as it fell to reach the hidden channels by which it had drained for centuries into the central ooze of the M’ssente Swamp.
droughtnounUS /draʊt/
a shortage of rainfall
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading That dry land drank the water as it fell to reach the hidden channels by which it had drained for centuries into the central ooze of the M’ssente Swamp.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
floodsnounUS /flʌdz/
plural of “flood” — the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading On Sunday, the fourth day, the rain ceased about the time of a sullen and misty dawn, and by ten o’clock in the morning the sun had triumphed.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
to a considerable degree
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
not accessible to view
From this reading That dry land drank the water as it fell to reach the hidden channels by which it had drained for centuries into the central ooze of the M’ssente Swamp.
hillsidenounUS /ˈhɪlsaɪd/
the side or slope of a hill
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
hornbillsnounUS /ˈhɔːrnbɪlz/
plural of “hornbill” — bird of tropical Africa and Asia having a very large bill surmounted by a bony protuberance; related to kingfishers
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
huenounUS /hjuː/
the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On Sunday, the fourth day, the rain ceased about the time of a sullen and misty dawn, and by ten o’clock in the morning the sun had triumphed.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading That dry land drank the water as it fell to reach the hidden channels by which it had drained for centuries into the central ooze of the M’ssente Swamp.
isolatedadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsəleɪtəd/
not close together in time
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading That dry land drank the water as it fell to reach the hidden channels by which it had drained for centuries into the central ooze of the M’ssente Swamp.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading That dry land drank the water as it fell to reach the hidden channels by which it had drained for centuries into the central ooze of the M’ssente Swamp.
in the recent past
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
M'ssente
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That dry land drank the water as it fell to reach the hidden channels by which it had drained for centuries into the central ooze of the M’ssente Swamp.
an organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
mistyadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsti/
filled or abounding with fog or mist
From this reading On Sunday, the fourth day, the rain ceased about the time of a sullen and misty dawn, and by ten o’clock in the morning the sun had triumphed.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading On Sunday, the fourth day, the rain ceased about the time of a sullen and misty dawn, and by ten o’clock in the morning the sun had triumphed.
not any; not one
From this reading And yet no waterways appeared.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading On Sunday, the fourth day, the rain ceased about the time of a sullen and misty dawn, and by ten o’clock in the morning the sun had triumphed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That dry land drank the water as it fell to reach the hidden channels by which it had drained for centuries into the central ooze of the M’ssente Swamp.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
oozenounUS /uːz/
any thick, viscous matter
From this reading That dry land drank the water as it fell to reach the hidden channels by which it had drained for centuries into the central ooze of the M’ssente Swamp.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading That dry land drank the water as it fell to reach the hidden channels by which it had drained for centuries into the central ooze of the M’ssente Swamp.
Identical; not different.
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
stragglingadjective
spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
submergedadjectiveUS /səbˈmɜːrdʒd/
beneath the surface of the water
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
sullenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌlən/
showing a brooding ill humor
From this reading On Sunday, the fourth day, the rain ceased about the time of a sullen and misty dawn, and by ten o’clock in the morning the sun had triumphed.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading On Sunday, the fourth day, the rain ceased about the time of a sullen and misty dawn, and by ten o’clock in the morning the sun had triumphed.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading On Sunday, the fourth day, the rain ceased about the time of a sullen and misty dawn, and by ten o’clock in the morning the sun had triumphed.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
SwampverbUS /swɑːmp/
drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged
From this reading That dry land drank the water as it fell to reach the hidden channels by which it had drained for centuries into the central ooze of the M’ssente Swamp.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading On Sunday, the fourth day, the rain ceased about the time of a sullen and misty dawn, and by ten o’clock in the morning the sun had triumphed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading I FOR three days the rain fell so heavily that the mission lay isolated on its hillside, as surely as if the country had been submerged by floods.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading On Sunday, the fourth day, the rain ceased about the time of a sullen and misty dawn, and by ten o’clock in the morning the sun had triumphed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That dry land drank the water as it fell to reach the hidden channels by which it had drained for centuries into the central ooze of the M’ssente Swamp.
triumphedverbUS /ˈtraɪəmft/
past form of “triumph” — prove superior
From this reading On Sunday, the fourth day, the rain ceased about the time of a sullen and misty dawn, and by ten o’clock in the morning the sun had triumphed.
undergrowthnounUS /ˈʌndərɡroʊθ/
the brush (small trees and bushes and ferns etc.) growing beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
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 That dry land drank the water as it fell to reach the hidden channels by which it had drained for centuries into the central ooze of the M’ssente Swamp.
waterwaysnounUS /ˈwɔːtərweɪz/
plural of “waterway” — a navigable body of water
From this reading And yet no waterways appeared.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading That dry land drank the water as it fell to reach the hidden channels by which it had drained for centuries into the central ooze of the M’ssente Swamp.
witheredadjectiveUS /ˈwɪðərd/
lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading No one would have believed that any rain had lately fallen; for the bush was full of dry and brittle sound; the leaves of the undergrowth were of the same ashen hue; the straggling candelabra cactus stood as withered as if they were dying of drought; the hornbills were calling on every side.
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet no waterways appeared.
