used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading They came to broad rivers of lava which they flew across.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
on or to one side
From this reading Steam engines and steam shovels, railroad and fire engines, crumpled and cast aside, lay scattered here and there, dried currants in a monstrous pudding.
automobilesnounUS /ˈɔːtəmoʊbiːlz/
plural of “automobile” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading In the thick stream was caught wreckage; automobiles and trucks with bent and twisted wheels lay upside down like dead insects.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading In the thick stream was caught wreckage; automobiles and trucks with bent and twisted wheels lay upside down like dead insects.
blackenedadjectiveUS /ˈblækənd/
darkened by smoke
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading They came to broad rivers of lava which they flew across.
lacking funds
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They came to broad rivers of lava which they flew across.
put or send forth
From this reading Steam engines and steam shovels, railroad and fire engines, crumpled and cast aside, lay scattered here and there, dried currants in a monstrous pudding.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading In the thick stream was caught wreckage; automobiles and trucks with bent and twisted wheels lay upside down like dead insects.
crumpledadjectiveUS /ˈkrʌmpəld/
of metal e.g.
From this reading Steam engines and steam shovels, railroad and fire engines, crumpled and cast aside, lay scattered here and there, dried currants in a monstrous pudding.
currants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Steam engines and steam shovels, railroad and fire engines, crumpled and cast aside, lay scattered here and there, dried currants in a monstrous pudding.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading In the thick stream was caught wreckage; automobiles and trucks with bent and twisted wheels lay upside down like dead insects.
DEFEATnounUS /dɪˈfiːt/
an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
driedadjectiveUS /draɪd/
not still wet
From this reading Steam engines and steam shovels, railroad and fire engines, crumpled and cast aside, lay scattered here and there, dried currants in a monstrous pudding.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
eaglesnounUS /ˈiːɡəlz/
plural of “eagle” — any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
enginesnounUS /ˈendʒənz/
plural of “engine” — motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading Steam engines and steam shovels, railroad and fire engines, crumpled and cast aside, lay scattered here and there, dried currants in a monstrous pudding.
escapingverbUS /ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “escape” — run away from confinement
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
apart from; not including
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Steam engines and steam shovels, railroad and fire engines, crumpled and cast aside, lay scattered here and there, dried currants in a monstrous pudding.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading They came to broad rivers of lava which they flew across.
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Steam engines and steam shovels, railroad and fire engines, crumpled and cast aside, lay scattered here and there, dried currants in a monstrous pudding.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
hissverbUS /hɪs/
make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
hopsnounUS /hɑːps/
twining perennials having cordate leaves and flowers arranged in conelike spikes; the dried flowers of this plant are used in brewing to add the characteristic bitter taste to beer
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
insectsnounUS /ˈɪnsekts/
plural of “insect” — small air-breathing arthropod
From this reading In the thick stream was caught wreckage; automobiles and trucks with bent and twisted wheels lay upside down like dead insects.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
lavanounUS /ˈlɑːvə/
rock that in its molten form (as magma) issues from volcanos; lava is what magma is called when it reaches the surface
From this reading They came to broad rivers of lava which they flew across.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading In the thick stream was caught wreckage; automobiles and trucks with bent and twisted wheels lay upside down like dead insects.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
become covered with mist
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
monstrousadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːnstrəs/
abnormally large
From this reading Steam engines and steam shovels, railroad and fire engines, crumpled and cast aside, lay scattered here and there, dried currants in a monstrous pudding.
not any; not one
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
puddingnounUS /ˈpʊdɪŋ/
any of various soft thick unsweetened baked dishes
From this reading Steam engines and steam shovels, railroad and fire engines, crumpled and cast aside, lay scattered here and there, dried currants in a monstrous pudding.
railroadnounUS /ˈreɪlroʊd/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading Steam engines and steam shovels, railroad and fire engines, crumpled and cast aside, lay scattered here and there, dried currants in a monstrous pudding.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
RaphaelnounUS /ˌrɑːfaɪˈel/
Italian painter whose many paintings exemplify the ideals of the High Renaissance (1483-1520)
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
riversnounUS /ˈrɪvərz/
plural of “river” — a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading They came to broad rivers of lava which they flew across.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading Steam engines and steam shovels, railroad and fire engines, crumpled and cast aside, lay scattered here and there, dried currants in a monstrous pudding.
shovelsnounUS /ˈʃʌvəlz/
plural of “shovel” — a hand tool for lifting loose material; consists of a curved container or scoop and a handle
From this reading Steam engines and steam shovels, railroad and fire engines, crumpled and cast aside, lay scattered here and there, dried currants in a monstrous pudding.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
smouldered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
steamverbUS /stiːm/
travel by means of steam power
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading In the thick stream was caught wreckage; automobiles and trucks with bent and twisted wheels lay upside down like dead insects.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Steam engines and steam shovels, railroad and fire engines, crumpled and cast aside, lay scattered here and there, dried currants in a monstrous pudding.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They came to broad rivers of lava which they flew across.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading In the thick stream was caught wreckage; automobiles and trucks with bent and twisted wheels lay upside down like dead insects.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
trailedverbUS /treɪld/
past form of “trail” — to lag or linger behind
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
trucksnounUS /trʌks/
plural of “truck” — an automotive vehicle suitable for hauling
From this reading In the thick stream was caught wreckage; automobiles and trucks with bent and twisted wheels lay upside down like dead insects.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading In the thick stream was caught wreckage; automobiles and trucks with bent and twisted wheels lay upside down like dead insects.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
upsidenounUS /ˈʌpˈsaɪd/
the highest or uppermost side of anything
From this reading In the thick stream was caught wreckage; automobiles and trucks with bent and twisted wheels lay upside down like dead insects.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the thick stream was caught wreckage; automobiles and trucks with bent and twisted wheels lay upside down like dead insects.
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/
plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
From this reading In the thick stream was caught wreckage; automobiles and trucks with bent and twisted wheels lay upside down like dead insects.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They came to broad rivers of lava which they flew across.
a Caucasian
From this reading Ruin spread before them: blackened walls smouldered under the bright sky; no sound broke the stillness except the hiss of escaping steam; white smoke drifted up like summer mist from a lake.
which person or people
From this reading VICTORY AND DEFEAT Raphael ran down the hill to the plain followed by the eagles, who trailed him in great fluttering hops.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the thick stream was caught wreckage; automobiles and trucks with bent and twisted wheels lay upside down like dead insects.
wreckagenounUS /ˈrekədʒ/
the remaining parts of something that has been wrecked
From this reading In the thick stream was caught wreckage; automobiles and trucks with bent and twisted wheels lay upside down like dead insects.
