used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Day dawned in crimson and gold; up rose the sun, and showed us the Haunted Island.
beetlingadjective
jutting or overhanging
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was now flood of tide; yet the depth of water was increased but little, and, to our dismay, the ship remained fast.
CANAANnounUS /ˈkeɪnən/
an ancient country in southwestern Asia on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea; a place of pilgrimage for Christianity and Islam and Judaism
From this reading SPIES OF CANAAN.
cliffsnounUS /klɪfs/
plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
crimsonadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmzən/
of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
From this reading Day dawned in crimson and gold; up rose the sun, and showed us the Haunted Island.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
curvingadjectiveUS /ˈkɜːrvɪŋ/
having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
dawnedverbUS /dɔːnd/
past form of “dawn” — become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
From this reading Day dawned in crimson and gold; up rose the sun, and showed us the Haunted Island.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Day dawned in crimson and gold; up rose the sun, and showed us the Haunted Island.
depthnounUS /depθ/
the extent downward or backward or inward
From this reading It was now flood of tide; yet the depth of water was increased but little, and, to our dismay, the ship remained fast.
dismaynounUS /dɪˈsmeɪ/
the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
From this reading It was now flood of tide; yet the depth of water was increased but little, and, to our dismay, the ship remained fast.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading It was now flood of tide; yet the depth of water was increased but little, and, to our dismay, the ship remained fast.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading It was now flood of tide; yet the depth of water was increased but little, and, to our dismay, the ship remained fast.
frontsnounUS /frʌnts/
plural of “front” — the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
coins made of gold
From this reading Day dawned in crimson and gold; up rose the sun, and showed us the Haunted Island.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
HauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading Day dawned in crimson and gold; up rose the sun, and showed us the Haunted Island.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
horsedverbUS /hɔːrst/
past form of “horse” — provide with a horse or horses
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
ten 10s
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Day dawned in crimson and gold; up rose the sun, and showed us the Haunted Island.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading It was now flood of tide; yet the depth of water was increased but little, and, to our dismay, the ship remained fast.
indraught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Day dawned in crimson and gold; up rose the sun, and showed us the Haunted Island.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was now flood of tide; yet the depth of water was increased but little, and, to our dismay, the ship remained fast.
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 A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
not any; not one
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was now flood of tide; yet the depth of water was increased but little, and, to our dismay, the ship remained fast.
occasioning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SPIES OF CANAAN.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading It was now flood of tide; yet the depth of water was increased but little, and, to our dismay, the ship remained fast.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading It was now flood of tide; yet the depth of water was increased but little, and, to our dismay, the ship remained fast.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Day dawned in crimson and gold; up rose the sun, and showed us the Haunted Island.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
transport commercially
From this reading It was now flood of tide; yet the depth of water was increased but little, and, to our dismay, the ship remained fast.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Day dawned in crimson and gold; up rose the sun, and showed us the Haunted Island.
spating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
spiedverbUS /spaɪd/
inflected form of “spy” — catch sight of
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
SPIESnounUS /spaɪz/
plural of “spy” — (military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
From this reading SPIES OF CANAAN.
stupendousadjectiveUS /stuːˈpendəs/
so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Day dawned in crimson and gold; up rose the sun, and showed us the Haunted Island.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Day dawned in crimson and gold; up rose the sun, and showed us the Haunted Island.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading It was now flood of tide; yet the depth of water was increased but little, and, to our dismay, the ship remained fast.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
twistingnounUS /ˈtwɪstɪŋ/
the act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Day dawned in crimson and gold; up rose the sun, and showed us the Haunted Island.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Day dawned in crimson and gold; up rose the sun, and showed us the Haunted Island.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
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 A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
wherein
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraught of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us in.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
a Caucasian
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet.
but in spite of that
From this reading It was now flood of tide; yet the depth of water was increased but little, and, to our dismay, the ship remained fast.
