used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But now she halted there, dismounted, and picked up the end of a wire that lay trailing on the ground.
the state of being absent
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading THE ROAD TO PARADISE The gap in the fence remained exactly as it had been when it invited her to adventure.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But now she halted there, dismounted, and picked up the end of a wire that lay trailing on the ground.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Dropping it, and kneeling excitedly in the grass, she searched another, and still another wire, and with the same result.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE ROAD TO PARADISE The gap in the fence remained exactly as it had been when it invited her to adventure.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading With new-found interest she examined the fracture, and stared at it in wonder.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE ROAD TO PARADISE The gap in the fence remained exactly as it had been when it invited her to adventure.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But now she halted there, dismounted, and picked up the end of a wire that lay trailing on the ground.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
cleanlyadverbUS /ˈkliːnli/
smoothly and without difficulty; precisely and deftly
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
dismounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now she halted there, dismounted, and picked up the end of a wire that lay trailing on the ground.
DroppingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɑːpɪŋ/
coming down freely under the influence of gravity
From this reading Dropping it, and kneeling excitedly in the grass, she searched another, and still another wire, and with the same result.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading But now she halted there, dismounted, and picked up the end of a wire that lay trailing on the ground.
plural of “end” — either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
divisible by two
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading THE ROAD TO PARADISE The gap in the fence remained exactly as it had been when it invited her to adventure.
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading With new-found interest she examined the fracture, and stared at it in wonder.
excitedlyadverbUS /ɪkˈsaɪtədli/
with excitement; in an excited manner
From this reading Dropping it, and kneeling excitedly in the grass, she searched another, and still another wire, and with the same result.
the organ of sight
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
enclose with a fence
From this reading THE ROAD TO PARADISE The gap in the fence remained exactly as it had been when it invited her to adventure.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
fractureverbUS /ˈfræktʃər/
violate or abuse
From this reading With new-found interest she examined the fracture, and stared at it in wonder.
gapnounUS /ɡæp/
a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures
From this reading THE ROAD TO PARADISE The gap in the fence remained exactly as it had been when it invited her to adventure.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Dropping it, and kneeling excitedly in the grass, she searched another, and still another wire, and with the same result.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading But now she halted there, dismounted, and picked up the end of a wire that lay trailing on the ground.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE ROAD TO PARADISE The gap in the fence remained exactly as it had been when it invited her to adventure.
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading But now she halted there, dismounted, and picked up the end of a wire that lay trailing on the ground.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE ROAD TO PARADISE The gap in the fence remained exactly as it had been when it invited her to adventure.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE ROAD TO PARADISE The gap in the fence remained exactly as it had been when it invited her to adventure.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading With new-found interest she examined the fracture, and stared at it in wonder.
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading THE ROAD TO PARADISE The gap in the fence remained exactly as it had been when it invited her to adventure.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE ROAD TO PARADISE The gap in the fence remained exactly as it had been when it invited her to adventure.
kneelingnounUS /ˈniːlɪŋ/
supporting yourself on your knees
From this reading Dropping it, and kneeling excitedly in the grass, she searched another, and still another wire, and with the same result.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading But now she halted there, dismounted, and picked up the end of a wire that lay trailing on the ground.
new-found
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With new-found interest she examined the fracture, and stared at it in wonder.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But now she halted there, dismounted, and picked up the end of a wire that lay trailing on the ground.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But now she halted there, dismounted, and picked up the end of a wire that lay trailing on the ground.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But now she halted there, dismounted, and picked up the end of a wire that lay trailing on the ground.
PARADISEnounUS /ˈperədaɪs/
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading THE ROAD TO PARADISE The gap in the fence remained exactly as it had been when it invited her to adventure.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading But now she halted there, dismounted, and picked up the end of a wire that lay trailing on the ground.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
recentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/
in the recent past
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading THE ROAD TO PARADISE The gap in the fence remained exactly as it had been when it invited her to adventure.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Dropping it, and kneeling excitedly in the grass, she searched another, and still another wire, and with the same result.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading THE ROAD TO PARADISE The gap in the fence remained exactly as it had been when it invited her to adventure.
rustverbUS /rʌst/
become destroyed by water, air, or a corrosive such as an acid
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Dropping it, and kneeling excitedly in the grass, she searched another, and still another wire, and with the same result.
searchedverbUS /sɜːrtʃt/
past form of “search” — try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading Dropping it, and kneeling excitedly in the grass, she searched another, and still another wire, and with the same result.
severedadjectiveUS /ˈsevərd/
detached by cutting
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But now she halted there, dismounted, and picked up the end of a wire that lay trailing on the ground.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading With new-found interest she examined the fracture, and stared at it in wonder.
not in physical motion
From this reading Dropping it, and kneeling excitedly in the grass, she searched another, and still another wire, and with the same result.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But now she halted there, dismounted, and picked up the end of a wire that lay trailing on the ground.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ROAD TO PARADISE The gap in the fence remained exactly as it had been when it invited her to adventure.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But now she halted there, dismounted, and picked up the end of a wire that lay trailing on the ground.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE ROAD TO PARADISE The gap in the fence remained exactly as it had been when it invited her to adventure.
trailingnounUS /ˈtreɪlɪŋ/
the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind
From this reading But now she halted there, dismounted, and picked up the end of a wire that lay trailing on the ground.
unpractisedadjective
not having had extensive practice
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But now she halted there, dismounted, and picked up the end of a wire that lay trailing on the ground.
precisely as stated
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
at the time that
From this reading THE ROAD TO PARADISE The gap in the fence remained exactly as it had been when it invited her to adventure.
ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading But now she halted there, dismounted, and picked up the end of a wire that lay trailing on the ground.
wiresnounUS /ˈwaɪərz/
plural of “wire” — ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading Even to her unpractised eye the facts were plain: the four wires had not been broken; they had been cleanly cut, and very recently, as shown by the absence of rust on the severed ends.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With new-found interest she examined the fracture, and stared at it in wonder.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading With new-found interest she examined the fracture, and stared at it in wonder.
