used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The huge, upstanding tree-trunks were devoid of limbs for a hundred feet or more above the ground.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The huge, upstanding tree-trunks were devoid of limbs for a hundred feet or more above the ground.
adventurersnounUS /ædˈventʃərərz/
plural of “adventurer” — a person who enjoys taking risks
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
from appearances alone
From this reading He walked very rapidly, looking neither to the right nor to the left, finding his way apparently by an intuitive sense of direction.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Occasionally he glanced back over his shoulder and smiled.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He walked very rapidly, looking neither to the right nor to the left, finding his way apparently by an intuitive sense of direction.
CHEMISTnounUS /ˈkemɪst/
a scientist who specializes in chemistry
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
devoidadjectiveUS /dɪˈvɔɪd/
completely wanting or lacking
From this reading The huge, upstanding tree-trunks were devoid of limbs for a hundred feet or more above the ground.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Walking through the woods here was not difficult, and the party made rapid progress.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading He walked very rapidly, looking neither to the right nor to the left, finding his way apparently by an intuitive sense of direction.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The huge, upstanding tree-trunks were devoid of limbs for a hundred feet or more above the ground.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading He walked very rapidly, looking neither to the right nor to the left, finding his way apparently by an intuitive sense of direction.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Occasionally he glanced back over his shoulder and smiled.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The huge, upstanding tree-trunks were devoid of limbs for a hundred feet or more above the ground.
someone employed to conduct others
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He walked very rapidly, looking neither to the right nor to the left, finding his way apparently by an intuitive sense of direction.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Walking through the woods here was not difficult, and the party made rapid progress.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The huge, upstanding tree-trunks were devoid of limbs for a hundred feet or more above the ground.
ten 10s
From this reading The huge, upstanding tree-trunks were devoid of limbs for a hundred feet or more above the ground.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
intuitiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtuːətɪv/
spontaneously derived from or prompted by a natural tendency
From this reading He walked very rapidly, looking neither to the right nor to the left, finding his way apparently by an intuitive sense of direction.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading He walked very rapidly, looking neither to the right nor to the left, finding his way apparently by an intuitive sense of direction.
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading The huge, upstanding tree-trunks were devoid of limbs for a hundred feet or more above the ground.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading He walked very rapidly, looking neither to the right nor to the left, finding his way apparently by an intuitive sense of direction.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Walking through the woods here was not difficult, and the party made rapid progress.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading He walked very rapidly, looking neither to the right nor to the left, finding his way apparently by an intuitive sense of direction.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading He walked very rapidly, looking neither to the right nor to the left, finding his way apparently by an intuitive sense of direction.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Walking through the woods here was not difficult, and the party made rapid progress.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading Occasionally he glanced back over his shoulder and smiled.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He walked very rapidly, looking neither to the right nor to the left, finding his way apparently by an intuitive sense of direction.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Occasionally he glanced back over his shoulder and smiled.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Walking through the woods here was not difficult, and the party made rapid progress.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading Walking through the woods here was not difficult, and the party made rapid progress.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading Walking through the woods here was not difficult, and the party made rapid progress.
with speed
From this reading He walked very rapidly, looking neither to the right nor to the left, finding his way apparently by an intuitive sense of direction.
precisely, exactly
From this reading He walked very rapidly, looking neither to the right nor to the left, finding his way apparently by an intuitive sense of direction.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading He walked very rapidly, looking neither to the right nor to the left, finding his way apparently by an intuitive sense of direction.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading Occasionally he glanced back over his shoulder and smiled.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Occasionally he glanced back over his shoulder and smiled.
a male human offspring
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He walked very rapidly, looking neither to the right nor to the left, finding his way apparently by an intuitive sense of direction.
tracklessadjective
having no tracks
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
tree-trunks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The huge, upstanding tree-trunks were devoid of limbs for a hundred feet or more above the ground.
upstandingadjectiveUS /ˈʌpstændɪŋ/
meriting respect or esteem
From this reading The huge, upstanding tree-trunks were devoid of limbs for a hundred feet or more above the ground.
precisely as stated
From this reading He walked very rapidly, looking neither to the right nor to the left, finding his way apparently by an intuitive sense of direction.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading He walked very rapidly, looking neither to the right nor to the left, finding his way apparently by an intuitive sense of direction.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading Walking through the woods here was not difficult, and the party made rapid progress.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Walking through the woods here was not difficult, and the party made rapid progress.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He walked very rapidly, looking neither to the right nor to the left, finding his way apparently by an intuitive sense of direction.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The huge, upstanding tree-trunks were devoid of limbs for a hundred feet or more above the ground.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading THE CHEMIST AND HIS SON For an hour or more the three adventurers followed their strange guide in silence through the dense, trackless woods.
