used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The waters had subsided, leaving masses of ice, trees, rocks and mud strewn around in every direction.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The waters had subsided, leaving masses of ice, trees, rocks and mud strewn around in every direction.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Of the miners' cabins nothing remained; they had been swept out into the river.
blanketsnounUS /ˈblæŋkəts/
plural of “blanket” — bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading Looking down upon the scene of desolation, the men realized the helplessness of their position; without cabins, food or blankets matters seemed serious enough.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Most of them said nothing, but sat or stood watching the river flowing sullenly by.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Most of them said nothing, but sat or stood watching the river flowing sullenly by.
cabinsnounUS /ˈkæbənz/
plural of “cabin” — small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading Of the miners' cabins nothing remained; they had been swept out into the river.
dawnedverbUS /dɔːnd/
past form of “dawn” — become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading Looking down upon the scene of desolation, the men realized the helplessness of their position; without cabins, food or blankets matters seemed serious enough.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading The waters had subsided, leaving masses of ice, trees, rocks and mud strewn around in every direction.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Looking down upon the scene of desolation, the men realized the helplessness of their position; without cabins, food or blankets matters seemed serious enough.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
embersnounUS /ˈembərz/
plural of “ember” — a hot fragment of wood or coal that is left from a fire and is glowing or smoldering
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Looking down upon the scene of desolation, the men realized the helplessness of their position; without cabins, food or blankets matters seemed serious enough.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The waters had subsided, leaving masses of ice, trees, rocks and mud strewn around in every direction.
opinion or judgment
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
start firing a weapon
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
flowingnounUS /ˈfloʊɪŋ/
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading Most of them said nothing, but sat or stood watching the river flowing sullenly by.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading Looking down upon the scene of desolation, the men realized the helplessness of their position; without cabins, food or blankets matters seemed serious enough.
brought together in one place
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The waters had subsided, leaving masses of ice, trees, rocks and mud strewn around in every direction.
helplessnessnounUS /ˈhelpləsnəs/
powerlessness revealed by an inability to act
From this reading Looking down upon the scene of desolation, the men realized the helplessness of their position; without cabins, food or blankets matters seemed serious enough.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading The waters had subsided, leaving masses of ice, trees, rocks and mud strewn around in every direction.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The waters had subsided, leaving masses of ice, trees, rocks and mud strewn around in every direction.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Of the miners' cabins nothing remained; they had been swept out into the river.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
the act of departing
From this reading The waters had subsided, leaving masses of ice, trees, rocks and mud strewn around in every direction.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Looking down upon the scene of desolation, the men realized the helplessness of their position; without cabins, food or blankets matters seemed serious enough.
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading The waters had subsided, leaving masses of ice, trees, rocks and mud strewn around in every direction.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Looking down upon the scene of desolation, the men realized the helplessness of their position; without cabins, food or blankets matters seemed serious enough.
the force of workers available
From this reading Looking down upon the scene of desolation, the men realized the helplessness of their position; without cabins, food or blankets matters seemed serious enough.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
minersnounUS /ˈmaɪnərz/
plural of “miner” — laborer who works in a mine
From this reading Of the miners' cabins nothing remained; they had been swept out into the river.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Most of them said nothing, but sat or stood watching the river flowing sullenly by.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading The waters had subsided, leaving masses of ice, trees, rocks and mud strewn around in every direction.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Of the miners' cabins nothing remained; they had been swept out into the river.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Looking down upon the scene of desolation, the men realized the helplessness of their position; without cabins, food or blankets matters seemed serious enough.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Of the miners' cabins nothing remained; they had been swept out into the river.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Looking down upon the scene of desolation, the men realized the helplessness of their position; without cabins, food or blankets matters seemed serious enough.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Looking down upon the scene of desolation, the men realized the helplessness of their position; without cabins, food or blankets matters seemed serious enough.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Of the miners' cabins nothing remained; they had been swept out into the river.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Of the miners' cabins nothing remained; they had been swept out into the river.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The waters had subsided, leaving masses of ice, trees, rocks and mud strewn around in every direction.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Most of them said nothing, but sat or stood watching the river flowing sullenly by.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Most of them said nothing, but sat or stood watching the river flowing sullenly by.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Looking down upon the scene of desolation, the men realized the helplessness of their position; without cabins, food or blankets matters seemed serious enough.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Looking down upon the scene of desolation, the men realized the helplessness of their position; without cabins, food or blankets matters seemed serious enough.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading Looking down upon the scene of desolation, the men realized the helplessness of their position; without cabins, food or blankets matters seemed serious enough.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
smoulderingadjective
showing scarcely suppressed anger
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Most of them said nothing, but sat or stood watching the river flowing sullenly by.
strewnverbUS /struːn/
inflected form of “strew” — spread by scattering ("straw" is archaic)
From this reading The waters had subsided, leaving masses of ice, trees, rocks and mud strewn around in every direction.
subsidedverbUS /səbˈsaɪdɪd/
past form of “subside” — wear off or die down
From this reading The waters had subsided, leaving masses of ice, trees, rocks and mud strewn around in every direction.
sullenlyadverb
in a sullen manner
From this reading Most of them said nothing, but sat or stood watching the river flowing sullenly by.
possessing sweep
From this reading Of the miners' cabins nothing remained; they had been swept out into the river.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Looking down upon the scene of desolation, the men realized the helplessness of their position; without cabins, food or blankets matters seemed serious enough.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Most of them said nothing, but sat or stood watching the river flowing sullenly by.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Of the miners' cabins nothing remained; they had been swept out into the river.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The waters had subsided, leaving masses of ice, trees, rocks and mud strewn around in every direction.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
watchersnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃərz/
plural of “watcher” — a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Most of them said nothing, but sat or stood watching the river flowing sullenly by.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading The waters had subsided, leaving masses of ice, trees, rocks and mud strewn around in every direction.
at the time that
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE SHINING TRAIL When morning dawned it was a dreary sight which met the eyes of the tired watchers gathered about the smouldering embers of the fire upon the high bank.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Looking down upon the scene of desolation, the men realized the helplessness of their position; without cabins, food or blankets matters seemed serious enough.
