used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
anew
From this reading _Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their doings--The stampede--Charlie again_.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading _Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their doings--The stampede--Charlie again_.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading _Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their doings--The stampede--Charlie again_.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their doings--The stampede--Charlie again_.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
burialnounUS /ˈberiəl/
the ritual placing of a corpse in a grave
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
cataractsnounUS /ˈkætərækts/
plural of “cataract” — an eye disease that involves the clouding or opacification of the natural lens of the eye
From this reading _Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their doings--The stampede--Charlie again_.
Charlie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their doings--The stampede--Charlie again_.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
cliffnounUS /klɪf/
a steep high face of rock
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Crusoe was with him, of course.
Crusoe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Crusoe was with him, of course.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
someone who is a detective
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
doingsnounUS /ˈduːɪŋz/
manner of acting or controlling yourself
From this reading _Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their doings--The stampede--Charlie again_.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
gorgeverbUS /ɡɔːrdʒ/
overeat or eat immodestly; make a pig of oneself
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
hemmedverbUS /hemd/
inflected form of “hem” — fold over and sew together to provide with a hem
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Crusoe was with him, of course.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading _Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their doings--The stampede--Charlie again_.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
and nothing more
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading _Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their doings--The stampede--Charlie again_.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Crusoe was with him, of course.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
outlinesnounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪnz/
plural of “outline” — the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
precipices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
rockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
ruggedadjectiveUS /ˈrʌɡəd/
sturdy and strong in constitution or construction; enduring
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading _Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their doings--The stampede--Charlie again_.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
sportsnounUS /spɔːrts/
plural of “sport” — an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition
From this reading _Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their doings--The stampede--Charlie again_.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
stampedeverbUS /stæmˈpiːd/
cause to run in panic
From this reading _Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their doings--The stampede--Charlie again_.
sunningverbUS /ˈsʌnɪŋ/
inflected form of “sun” — expose one's body to the sun
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
temporaryadjectiveUS /ˈtempəreri/
not permanent; not lasting
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their doings--The stampede--Charlie again_.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading _Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their doings--The stampede--Charlie again_.
bound or secured closely
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
Varley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky.
in or at the place that
From this reading One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or two before.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Dick had tied Charlie to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Crusoe was with him, of course.
