used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This made Ned and his companions thoughtful when they discussed and speculated upon the yet unknown problem.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This they were resolved to discover, but the surmise of what might be made them take every necessary precaution, so as to be prepared for whatever chanced.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This they were resolved to discover, but the surmise of what might be made them take every necessary precaution, so as to be prepared for whatever chanced.
beltnounUS /belt/
endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But what prevented them from reaching it from other directions?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Was it surrounded by impassable forests, or worse?
chancedverbUS /tʃænst/
past form of “chance” — be the case by chance
From this reading This they were resolved to discover, but the surmise of what might be made them take every necessary precaution, so as to be prepared for whatever chanced.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading This made Ned and his companions thoughtful when they discussed and speculated upon the yet unknown problem.
deterredverbUS /dɪˈtɜːrd/
inflected form of “deter” — try to prevent; show opposition to
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
plural of “direction” — a line leading to a place or point
From this reading But what prevented them from reaching it from other directions?
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading This they were resolved to discover, but the surmise of what might be made them take every necessary precaution, so as to be prepared for whatever chanced.
discussedverbUS /dɪˈskʌst/
past form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading This made Ned and his companions thoughtful when they discussed and speculated upon the yet unknown problem.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading This they were resolved to discover, but the surmise of what might be made them take every necessary precaution, so as to be prepared for whatever chanced.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This they were resolved to discover, but the surmise of what might be made them take every necessary precaution, so as to be prepared for whatever chanced.
forestsnounUS /ˈfɔːrəsts/
plural of “forest” — the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading Was it surrounded by impassable forests, or worse?
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But what prevented them from reaching it from other directions?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This made Ned and his companions thoughtful when they discussed and speculated upon the yet unknown problem.
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
the quality of being humane
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
impassableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpæsəbəl/
incapable of being passed
From this reading Was it surrounded by impassable forests, or worse?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading This made Ned and his companions thoughtful when they discussed and speculated upon the yet unknown problem.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
absolutely essential
From this reading This they were resolved to discover, but the surmise of what might be made them take every necessary precaution, so as to be prepared for whatever chanced.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This made Ned and his companions thoughtful when they discussed and speculated upon the yet unknown problem.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This they were resolved to discover, but the surmise of what might be made them take every necessary precaution, so as to be prepared for whatever chanced.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Was it surrounded by impassable forests, or worse?
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading But what prevented them from reaching it from other directions?
pestilentialadjective
likely to spread and cause an epidemic disease
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
precautionnounUS /priˈkɔːʃən/
a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.
From this reading This they were resolved to discover, but the surmise of what might be made them take every necessary precaution, so as to be prepared for whatever chanced.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading This they were resolved to discover, but the surmise of what might be made them take every necessary precaution, so as to be prepared for whatever chanced.
preventedverbUS /prɪˈventɪd/
past form of “prevent” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading But what prevented them from reaching it from other directions?
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading This made Ned and his companions thoughtful when they discussed and speculated upon the yet unknown problem.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
the act of physically reaching or thrusting out
From this reading But what prevented them from reaching it from other directions?
determined
From this reading This they were resolved to discover, but the surmise of what might be made them take every necessary precaution, so as to be prepared for whatever chanced.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This they were resolved to discover, but the surmise of what might be made them take every necessary precaution, so as to be prepared for whatever chanced.
speculatedverbUS /ˈspekjəleɪtɪd/
past form of “speculate” — to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
From this reading This made Ned and his companions thoughtful when they discussed and speculated upon the yet unknown problem.
surmiseverbUS /sərˈmaɪz/
infer from incomplete evidence
From this reading This they were resolved to discover, but the surmise of what might be made them take every necessary precaution, so as to be prepared for whatever chanced.
confined on all sides
From this reading Was it surrounded by impassable forests, or worse?
carry out
From this reading This they were resolved to discover, but the surmise of what might be made them take every necessary precaution, so as to be prepared for whatever chanced.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This made Ned and his companions thoughtful when they discussed and speculated upon the yet unknown problem.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But what prevented them from reaching it from other directions?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This made Ned and his companions thoughtful when they discussed and speculated upon the yet unknown problem.
thoughtfuladjectiveUS /ˈθɔːtfəl/
having intellectual depth
From this reading This made Ned and his companions thoughtful when they discussed and speculated upon the yet unknown problem.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
not known
From this reading This made Ned and his companions thoughtful when they discussed and speculated upon the yet unknown problem.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading This made Ned and his companions thoughtful when they discussed and speculated upon the yet unknown problem.
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Was it surrounded by impassable forests, or worse?
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This they were resolved to discover, but the surmise of what might be made them take every necessary precaution, so as to be prepared for whatever chanced.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But what prevented them from reaching it from other directions?
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading This they were resolved to discover, but the surmise of what might be made them take every necessary precaution, so as to be prepared for whatever chanced.
at the time that
From this reading This made Ned and his companions thoughtful when they discussed and speculated upon the yet unknown problem.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have hitherto deterred humanity on that side.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading Was it surrounded by impassable forests, or worse?
but in spite of that
From this reading This made Ned and his companions thoughtful when they discussed and speculated upon the yet unknown problem.
