adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.
anglesnounUS /ˈæŋɡəlz/
plural of “angle” — the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
animalsnounUS /ˈænəməlz/
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.
brokeadjectiveUS /broʊk/
lacking funds
From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.
buryingnounUS /ˈberiɪŋ/
concealing something under the ground
From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.
chancenounUS /tʃæns/
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.
coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.
confusionnounUS /kənˈfjuːʒən/
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.
detainingverbUS /dɪˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “detain” — deprive of freedom; take into confinement
From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.
dognounUS /dɔːɡ/
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
dogsnounUS /dɑːɡz/
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
drowningverbUS /ˈdraʊnɪŋ/
-ing form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible
From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.
fightingnounUS /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.
flightnounUS /flaɪt/
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.
flounderverbUS /ˈflaʊndər/
walk with great difficulty
From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
giveverbUS /ɡɪv/
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.
gropedverbUS /ɡroʊpt/
past form of “grope” — feel about uncertainly or blindly
From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.
hurriedlyadverbUS /ˈhɜːridli/
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.
icenounUS /aɪs/
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
openingnounUS /ˈoʊpənɪŋ/
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
pairnounUS /per/
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.
racingnounUS /ˈreɪsɪŋ/
the sport of engaging in contests of speed
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
rightadverbUS /raɪt/
precisely, exactly
From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
rushedadjectiveUS /rʌʃt/
done under pressure
From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
sheath-knives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.
slashingadjectiveUS /ˈslæʃɪŋ/
as if striking with slashing blows
From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.
slednounUS /sled/
a vehicle mounted on runners and pulled by horses or dogs; for transportation over snow
From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
spedverbUS /sped/
inflected form of “speed” — move hurridly
From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.
stoppedadjectiveUS /stɑːpt/
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
struckadjectiveUS /strʌk/
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
tanglenounUS /ˈtæŋɡəl/
a twisted and tangled mass that is highly interwoven
From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
teamnounUS /tiːm/
a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
tracesnounUS /ˈtreɪsəz/
plural of “trace” — a just detectable amount
From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.
turtlenounUS /ˈtɜːrtəl/
a sweater or jersey with a high close-fitting collar
From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
uncoveredadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌvərd/
not covered with clothing
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
waistsnounUS /weɪsts/
plural of “waist” — the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips
From this reading Through this opening the river rushed out upon them to their waists, burying the sled and swinging the dogs off at right angles in a drowning tangle.
waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading But even as they looked, the pair struck the water and began to flounder through.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading From up the river two men were racing a dog team toward them on an uncovered stretch of ice.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Behind, where their feet had sped the moment before, the ice broke up and turned turtle.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But the men stopped their flight to give the animals a fighting chance, and they groped hurriedly in the cold confusion, slashing at the detaining traces with their sheath-knives.
