used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
see with attention
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
BethnounUS /beθ/
the 2nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was not much to see, but it was picturesque.
canyonnounUS /ˈkænjən/
a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
collectingnounUS /kəˈlektɪŋ/
the act of gathering something together
From this reading In their lack of funds the partners had constructed the simplest known device for collecting the gold from the sand.
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
constructedverbUS /kənˈstrʌktəd/
past form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts
From this reading In their lack of funds the partners had constructed the simplest known device for collecting the gold from the sand.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
devicenounUS /dɪˈvaɪs/
an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
From this reading In their lack of funds the partners had constructed the simplest known device for collecting the gold from the sand.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading The sluices were mere square flumes, set with a fairly rapid grade.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
flumesnounUS /fluːmz/
plural of “flume” — a narrow gorge with a stream running through it
From this reading The sluices were mere square flumes, set with a fairly rapid grade.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In their lack of funds the partners had constructed the simplest known device for collecting the gold from the sand.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In their lack of funds the partners had constructed the simplest known device for collecting the gold from the sand.
fundsnounUS /fʌndz/
assets in the form of money
From this reading In their lack of funds the partners had constructed the simplest known device for collecting the gold from the sand.
coins made of gold
From this reading In their lack of funds the partners had constructed the simplest known device for collecting the gold from the sand.
gradenounUS /ɡreɪd/
a body of students who are taught together
From this reading The sluices were mere square flumes, set with a fairly rapid grade.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In their lack of funds the partners had constructed the simplest known device for collecting the gold from the sand.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was not much to see, but it was picturesque.
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading In their lack of funds the partners had constructed the simplest known device for collecting the gold from the sand.
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading In their lack of funds the partners had constructed the simplest known device for collecting the gold from the sand.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading The sluices were mere square flumes, set with a fairly rapid grade.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading There was not much to see, but it was picturesque.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was not much to see, but it was picturesque.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
operationnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən/
the state of being in effect or being operative
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
partnersnounUS /ˈpɑːrtnərz/
plural of “partner” — a person's partner in marriage
From this reading In their lack of funds the partners had constructed the simplest known device for collecting the gold from the sand.
picturesqueadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/
suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture
From this reading There was not much to see, but it was picturesque.
placernounUS /ˈplæsər/
an alluvial deposit that contains particles of some valuable mineral
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
in the near future
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
proppedverbUS /prɑːpt/
inflected form of “prop” — support by placing against something solid or rigid
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading The sluices were mere square flumes, set with a fairly rapid grade.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading In their lack of funds the partners had constructed the simplest known device for collecting the gold from the sand.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading There was not much to see, but it was picturesque.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The sluices were mere square flumes, set with a fairly rapid grade.
simplestadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpləst/
superlative of “simple” — having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading In their lack of funds the partners had constructed the simplest known device for collecting the gold from the sand.
sluices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
make square
From this reading The sluices were mere square flumes, set with a fairly rapid grade.
stiltsnounUS /stɪlts/
plural of “stilt” — a column of wood or steel or concrete that is driven into the ground to provide support for a structure
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
supportsnounUS /səˈpɔːrts/
plural of “support” — the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In their lack of funds the partners had constructed the simplest known device for collecting the gold from the sand.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was not much to see, but it was picturesque.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
troughsnounUS /trɔːfs/
plural of “trough” — a narrow depression (as in the earth or between ocean waves or in the ocean bed)
From this reading They had built a line of sluices, or troughs of considerable length, propped on stilts, or supports about knee high, along the old bed of the canyon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was not much to see, but it was picturesque.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The sluices were mere square flumes, set with a fairly rapid grade.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The sluices were mere square flumes, set with a fairly rapid grade.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
workingsnounUS /ˈwɜːrkɪŋz/
the internal mechanism of a device
From this reading WORK AND SONG Having presently finished her breakfast, Beth joined the group outside, curious to behold the workings of a placer mine in actual operation.
