used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was a rude little house of mud, but well plastered within, and perhaps had been intended as a dwelling in former days.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
beamsnounUS /biːmz/
plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading The smallest of these crosses was more than ten feet in height, and its beams at least six inches in diameter.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was a rude little house of mud, but well plastered within, and perhaps had been intended as a dwelling in former days.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
breachverbUS /briːtʃ/
act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
From this reading Creeping in through the breach, we found no furniture, but a pile of a dozen or more wooden crosses, which had been carried there by the doers of penance at Easter.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was a rude little house of mud, but well plastered within, and perhaps had been intended as a dwelling in former days.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Creeping in through the breach, we found no furniture, but a pile of a dozen or more wooden crosses, which had been carried there by the doers of penance at Easter.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Creeping in through the breach, we found no furniture, but a pile of a dozen or more wooden crosses, which had been carried there by the doers of penance at Easter.
chapelnounUS /ˈtʃæpəl/
a place of worship that has its own altar
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
continuallyadverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəli/
seemingly without interruption
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As to the heaviest, I doubt if I could have lifted it fairly from the ground.
CreepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading Creeping in through the breach, we found no furniture, but a pile of a dozen or more wooden crosses, which had been carried there by the doers of penance at Easter.
crossesnounUS /ˈkrɔːsɪz/
plural of “cross” — a wooden structure consisting of an upright post with a transverse piece
From this reading Creeping in through the breach, we found no furniture, but a pile of a dozen or more wooden crosses, which had been carried there by the doers of penance at Easter.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It was a rude little house of mud, but well plastered within, and perhaps had been intended as a dwelling in former days.
diameternounUS /daɪˈæmətər/
the length of a straight line passing through the center of a circle and connecting two points on the circumference
From this reading The smallest of these crosses was more than ten feet in height, and its beams at least six inches in diameter.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
doersnounUS /ˈduːərz/
plural of “doer” — a person who acts and gets things done
From this reading Creeping in through the breach, we found no furniture, but a pile of a dozen or more wooden crosses, which had been carried there by the doers of penance at Easter.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading As to the heaviest, I doubt if I could have lifted it fairly from the ground.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading Creeping in through the breach, we found no furniture, but a pile of a dozen or more wooden crosses, which had been carried there by the doers of penance at Easter.
dwellingnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋ/
housing that someone is living in
From this reading It was a rude little house of mud, but well plastered within, and perhaps had been intended as a dwelling in former days.
EasternounUS /ˈiːstər/
a Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Christ; celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox
From this reading Creeping in through the breach, we found no furniture, but a pile of a dozen or more wooden crosses, which had been carried there by the doers of penance at Easter.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading As to the heaviest, I doubt if I could have lifted it fairly from the ground.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The smallest of these crosses was more than ten feet in height, and its beams at least six inches in diameter.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading It was a rude little house of mud, but well plastered within, and perhaps had been intended as a dwelling in former days.
set up or found
From this reading Creeping in through the breach, we found no furniture, but a pile of a dozen or more wooden crosses, which had been carried there by the doers of penance at Easter.
foundationnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/
the basis on which something is grounded
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As to the heaviest, I doubt if I could have lifted it fairly from the ground.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading Creeping in through the breach, we found no furniture, but a pile of a dozen or more wooden crosses, which had been carried there by the doers of penance at Easter.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
gapnounUS /ɡæp/
a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading As to the heaviest, I doubt if I could have lifted it fairly from the ground.
habitancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading As to the heaviest, I doubt if I could have lifted it fairly from the ground.
heaviestadjectiveUS /ˈheviəst/
superlative of “heavy” — of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading As to the heaviest, I doubt if I could have lifted it fairly from the ground.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading The smallest of these crosses was more than ten feet in height, and its beams at least six inches in diameter.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was a rude little house of mud, but well plastered within, and perhaps had been intended as a dwelling in former days.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As to the heaviest, I doubt if I could have lifted it fairly from the ground.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading As to the heaviest, I doubt if I could have lifted it fairly from the ground.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a rude little house of mud, but well plastered within, and perhaps had been intended as a dwelling in former days.
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading The smallest of these crosses was more than ten feet in height, and its beams at least six inches in diameter.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading It was a rude little house of mud, but well plastered within, and perhaps had been intended as a dwelling in former days.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a rude little house of mud, but well plastered within, and perhaps had been intended as a dwelling in former days.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The smallest of these crosses was more than ten feet in height, and its beams at least six inches in diameter.
plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading The smallest of these crosses was more than ten feet in height, and its beams at least six inches in diameter.
held up in the air
From this reading As to the heaviest, I doubt if I could have lifted it fairly from the ground.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was a rude little house of mud, but well plastered within, and perhaps had been intended as a dwelling in former days.
MexicannounUS /ˈmeksəkən/
a native or inhabitant of Mexico
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Creeping in through the breach, we found no furniture, but a pile of a dozen or more wooden crosses, which had been carried there by the doers of penance at Easter.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading It was a rude little house of mud, but well plastered within, and perhaps had been intended as a dwelling in former days.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
not any; not one
From this reading Creeping in through the breach, we found no furniture, but a pile of a dozen or more wooden crosses, which had been carried there by the doers of penance at Easter.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Creeping in through the breach, we found no furniture, but a pile of a dozen or more wooden crosses, which had been carried there by the doers of penance at Easter.
penancenounUS /ˈpenəns/
remorse for your past conduct
From this reading Creeping in through the breach, we found no furniture, but a pile of a dozen or more wooden crosses, which had been carried there by the doers of penance at Easter.
Penitentes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
by chance
From this reading It was a rude little house of mud, but well plastered within, and perhaps had been intended as a dwelling in former days.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading Creeping in through the breach, we found no furniture, but a pile of a dozen or more wooden crosses, which had been carried there by the doers of penance at Easter.
plasteredadjectiveUS /ˈplæstərd/
(of hair) made smooth by applying a sticky or glossy substance
From this reading It was a rude little house of mud, but well plastered within, and perhaps had been intended as a dwelling in former days.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
socially incorrect in behavior
From this reading It was a rude little house of mud, but well plastered within, and perhaps had been intended as a dwelling in former days.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading The smallest of these crosses was more than ten feet in height, and its beams at least six inches in diameter.
smallestadjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːləst/
superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The smallest of these crosses was more than ten feet in height, and its beams at least six inches in diameter.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading The smallest of these crosses was more than ten feet in height, and its beams at least six inches in diameter.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The smallest of these crosses was more than ten feet in height, and its beams at least six inches in diameter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Creeping in through the breach, we found no furniture, but a pile of a dozen or more wooden crosses, which had been carried there by the doers of penance at Easter.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The smallest of these crosses was more than ten feet in height, and its beams at least six inches in diameter.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Creeping in through the breach, we found no furniture, but a pile of a dozen or more wooden crosses, which had been carried there by the doers of penance at Easter.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As to the heaviest, I doubt if I could have lifted it fairly from the ground.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a rude little house of mud, but well plastered within, and perhaps had been intended as a dwelling in former days.
washoutnounUS /ˈwɑːʃaʊt/
the channel or break produced by erosion of relatively soft soil by water
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading It was a rude little house of mud, but well plastered within, and perhaps had been intended as a dwelling in former days.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
in or at the place that
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
wideningnounUS /ˈwaɪdənɪŋ/
an increase in width
From this reading We had observed on the further side of the river, where the flat lands were continually widening between the stream and the hills, signs of Mexican habitancy, and at the washout discovered a chapel of the Society of the Penitentes, into which the flood had broken a great gap near the foundation.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading It was a rude little house of mud, but well plastered within, and perhaps had been intended as a dwelling in former days.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading Creeping in through the breach, we found no furniture, but a pile of a dozen or more wooden crosses, which had been carried there by the doers of penance at Easter.
