used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Far ahead of the brothers they glimpsed a grey shape just above the surface of the glistening water.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Far ahead of the brothers they glimpsed a grey shape just above the surface of the glistening water.
at or in the front
From this reading Far ahead of the brothers they glimpsed a grey shape just above the surface of the glistening water.
beamnounUS /biːm/
a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading The beam illuminated the depths of the dark passage.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been drawn up close to a natural wharf hewn out of the solid rock.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Far ahead of the brothers they glimpsed a grey shape just above the surface of the glistening water.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading THE CHAMBER IN THE CLIFF Frank switched on the flashlight.
a steep high face of rock
From this reading THE CHAMBER IN THE CLIFF Frank switched on the flashlight.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading It had been drawn up close to a natural wharf hewn out of the solid rock.
covenounUS /koʊv/
a small inlet
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The beam illuminated the depths of the dark passage.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading The beam illuminated the depths of the dark passage.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading It had been drawn up close to a natural wharf hewn out of the solid rock.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Far ahead of the brothers they glimpsed a grey shape just above the surface of the glistening water.
flashlightnounUS /ˈflæʃlaɪt/
a small portable battery-powered electric lamp
From this reading THE CHAMBER IN THE CLIFF Frank switched on the flashlight.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading THE CHAMBER IN THE CLIFF Frank switched on the flashlight.
glimpsedverbUS /ɡlɪmpst/
past form of “glimpse” — catch a glimpse of or see briefly
From this reading Far ahead of the brothers they glimpsed a grey shape just above the surface of the glistening water.
glisteningadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪsənɪŋ/
reflecting light
From this reading Far ahead of the brothers they glimpsed a grey shape just above the surface of the glistening water.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading Far ahead of the brothers they glimpsed a grey shape just above the surface of the glistening water.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
hewnadjectiveUS /hjuːn/
cut or shaped with hard blows of a heavy cutting instrument like an ax or chisel
From this reading It had been drawn up close to a natural wharf hewn out of the solid rock.
illuminatedadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈluːməneɪtəd/
provided with artificial light
From this reading The beam illuminated the depths of the dark passage.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE CHAMBER IN THE CLIFF Frank switched on the flashlight.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been drawn up close to a natural wharf hewn out of the solid rock.
and nothing more
From this reading Far ahead of the brothers they glimpsed a grey shape just above the surface of the glistening water.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading It had been drawn up close to a natural wharf hewn out of the solid rock.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The beam illuminated the depths of the dark passage.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE CHAMBER IN THE CLIFF Frank switched on the flashlight.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It had been drawn up close to a natural wharf hewn out of the solid rock.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading The beam illuminated the depths of the dark passage.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading It had been drawn up close to a natural wharf hewn out of the solid rock.
rowboatnounUS /ˈroʊboʊt/
a small boat of shallow draft with cross thwarts for seats and rowlocks for oars with which it is propelled
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading Far ahead of the brothers they glimpsed a grey shape just above the surface of the glistening water.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading It had been drawn up close to a natural wharf hewn out of the solid rock.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Far ahead of the brothers they glimpsed a grey shape just above the surface of the glistening water.
switchedverbUS /swɪtʃt/
past form of “switch” — change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
From this reading THE CHAMBER IN THE CLIFF Frank switched on the flashlight.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CHAMBER IN THE CLIFF Frank switched on the flashlight.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Far ahead of the brothers they glimpsed a grey shape just above the surface of the glistening water.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It had been drawn up close to a natural wharf hewn out of the solid rock.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It had been drawn up close to a natural wharf hewn out of the solid rock.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
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 Far ahead of the brothers they glimpsed a grey shape just above the surface of the glistening water.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For a moment they were startled, then they recognized that the grey shape was nothing more than the rowboat that had passed by them in the darkness outside the cove.
wharfnounUS /wɔːrf/
a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
From this reading It had been drawn up close to a natural wharf hewn out of the solid rock.
