used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
affordedverbUS /əˈfɔːrdəd/
past form of “afford” — be able to spare or give up
From this reading The hill now afforded a footing unsteadier than a laboring ship's deck.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The breeze of the night continued light and steady.
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/
The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
next to; at the side of
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading The breeze of the night continued light and steady.
castawaysnounUS /ˈkæstəweɪz/
plural of “castaway” — a person who is rejected (from society or home)
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
without stop or interruption
From this reading The breeze of the night continued light and steady.
the first light of day
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading With the first glimmer of day Lavelle went searching the sea.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading The hill now afforded a footing unsteadier than a laboring ship's deck.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The swell had increased during the morning hours.
start firing a weapon
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading With the first glimmer of day Lavelle went searching the sea.
footingnounUS /ˈfʊtɪŋ/
status with respect to the relations between people or groups
From this reading The hill now afforded a footing unsteadier than a laboring ship's deck.
set up or found
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
glimmernounUS /ˈɡlɪmər/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading With the first glimmer of day Lavelle went searching the sea.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The swell had increased during the morning hours.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The hill now afforded a footing unsteadier than a laboring ship's deck.
hopelessnessnounUS /ˈhoʊpləsnəs/
the despair you feel when you have abandoned hope of comfort or success
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading The swell had increased during the morning hours.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading The swell had increased during the morning hours.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
laboringadjectiveUS /ˈleɪbərɪŋ/
doing arduous or unpleasant work
From this reading The hill now afforded a footing unsteadier than a laboring ship's deck.
Lavelle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the first glimmer of day Lavelle went searching the sea.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The breeze of the night continued light and steady.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The swell had increased during the morning hours.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The breeze of the night continued light and steady.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The hill now afforded a footing unsteadier than a laboring ship's deck.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
presagingverbUS /ˈpresɪdʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “presage” — indicate, as with a sign or an omen
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading With the first glimmer of day Lavelle went searching the sea.
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading With the first glimmer of day Lavelle went searching the sea.
ship'snounUS /ʃɪps/
possessive form of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading The hill now afforded a footing unsteadier than a laboring ship's deck.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
smoldered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
having a supporting base
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
make steady
From this reading The breeze of the night continued light and steady.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
swellverbUS /swel/
increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity
From this reading The swell had increased during the morning hours.
in a swift manner
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The hill now afforded a footing unsteadier than a laboring ship's deck.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
unsteadier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hill now afforded a footing unsteadier than a laboring ship's deck.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading With the first glimmer of day Lavelle went searching the sea.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A high dawn--one presaging storm--found the castaways standing beside the signal fire which swiftly smoldered into the ashes of hopelessness.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the first glimmer of day Lavelle went searching the sea.
