used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a note of anxiety in their voices.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading A fierce chatter brought all the women to the doors of their seal-skin tents.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Onto the forepart of the kayaks they placed their weapons, leather lines, floats and drags.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading There was a note of anxiety in their voices.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading More than twoscore boats were drawn over the land-adhering ice to the edge of the sea.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading A fierce chatter brought all the women to the doors of their seal-skin tents.
chatterverbUS /ˈtʃætər/
click repeatedly or uncontrollably
From this reading A fierce chatter brought all the women to the doors of their seal-skin tents.
dismaynounUS /dɪˈsmeɪ/
the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
From this reading They looked seaward and shook their heads with dismay.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A fierce chatter brought all the women to the doors of their seal-skin tents.
dragsnounUS /dræɡz/
plural of “drag” — the phenomenon of resistance to motion through a fluid
From this reading Onto the forepart of the kayaks they placed their weapons, leather lines, floats and drags.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading More than twoscore boats were drawn over the land-adhering ice to the edge of the sea.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading More than twoscore boats were drawn over the land-adhering ice to the edge of the sea.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading A fierce chatter brought all the women to the doors of their seal-skin tents.
floatsnounUS /floʊts/
plural of “float” — the time interval between the deposit of a check in a bank and its payment
From this reading Onto the forepart of the kayaks they placed their weapons, leather lines, floats and drags.
forepartnoun
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Onto the forepart of the kayaks they placed their weapons, leather lines, floats and drags.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading They looked seaward and shook their heads with dismay.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading More than twoscore boats were drawn over the land-adhering ice to the edge of the sea.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a note of anxiety in their voices.
kayaksnounUS /ˈkaɪæks/
plural of “kayak” — a small canoe consisting of a light frame made watertight with animal skins; used by Eskimos
From this reading Onto the forepart of the kayaks they placed their weapons, leather lines, floats and drags.
land-adhering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than twoscore boats were drawn over the land-adhering ice to the edge of the sea.
leathernounUS /ˈleðər/
an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
From this reading Onto the forepart of the kayaks they placed their weapons, leather lines, floats and drags.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Onto the forepart of the kayaks they placed their weapons, leather lines, floats and drags.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading They looked seaward and shook their heads with dismay.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading More than twoscore boats were drawn over the land-adhering ice to the edge of the sea.
a brief written record
From this reading There was a note of anxiety in their voices.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a note of anxiety in their voices.
OntoprepositionUS /ˈɑːntuː/
moving to a position on a surface
From this reading Onto the forepart of the kayaks they placed their weapons, leather lines, floats and drags.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading More than twoscore boats were drawn over the land-adhering ice to the edge of the sea.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading Onto the forepart of the kayaks they placed their weapons, leather lines, floats and drags.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading More than twoscore boats were drawn over the land-adhering ice to the edge of the sea.
seal-skin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fierce chatter brought all the women to the doors of their seal-skin tents.
seawardadjectiveUS /ˈsiːwərd/
(of winds) coming from the land
From this reading They looked seaward and shook their heads with dismay.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading They looked seaward and shook their heads with dismay.
tentsnounUS /tents/
plural of “tent” — a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading A fierce chatter brought all the women to the doors of their seal-skin tents.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading More than twoscore boats were drawn over the land-adhering ice to the edge of the sea.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Onto the forepart of the kayaks they placed their weapons, leather lines, floats and drags.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There was a note of anxiety in their voices.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a note of anxiety in their voices.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Onto the forepart of the kayaks they placed their weapons, leather lines, floats and drags.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading More than twoscore boats were drawn over the land-adhering ice to the edge of the sea.
twoscoreadjective
being ten more than thirty
From this reading More than twoscore boats were drawn over the land-adhering ice to the edge of the sea.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading There was a note of anxiety in their voices.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a note of anxiety in their voices.
weaponsnounUS /ˈwepənz/
plural of “weapon” — any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading Onto the forepart of the kayaks they placed their weapons, leather lines, floats and drags.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading More than twoscore boats were drawn over the land-adhering ice to the edge of the sea.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They looked seaward and shook their heads with dismay.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading A fierce chatter brought all the women to the doors of their seal-skin tents.
