used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading TIDES Philip paused a moment when he reached the grassy bank.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I certainly am," she returned with an effort at lightness.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "I certainly am," she returned with an effort at lightness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I certainly am," she returned with an effort at lightness.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading TIDES Philip paused a moment when he reached the grassy bank.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "It's the best thing I can do, now that I've been so careless."
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading "It's the best thing I can do, now that I've been so careless."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "It's the best thing I can do, now that I've been so careless."
marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful
From this reading "It's the best thing I can do, now that I've been so careless."
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "I certainly am," she returned with an effort at lightness.
cushionsnounUS /ˈkʊʃənz/
plural of “cushion” — a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "It's the best thing I can do, now that I've been so careless."
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading "I certainly am," she returned with an effort at lightness.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
in a gradual manner
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
granitenounUS /ˈɡrænət/
plutonic igneous rock having visibly crystalline texture; generally composed of feldspar and mica and quartz
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
grassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡræsi/
abounding in grass
From this reading TIDES Philip paused a moment when he reached the grassy bank.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading TIDES Philip paused a moment when he reached the grassy bank.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
hummocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I certainly am," she returned with an effort at lightness.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's the best thing I can do, now that I've been so careless."
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's the best thing I can do, now that I've been so careless."
lightnessnounUS /ˈlaɪtnəs/
a feeling of joy and pride
From this reading "I certainly am," she returned with an effort at lightness.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
a particular point in time
From this reading TIDES Philip paused a moment when he reached the grassy bank.
not any; not one
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "It's the best thing I can do, now that I've been so careless."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
a course of conduct
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading TIDES Philip paused a moment when he reached the grassy bank.
Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading TIDES Philip paused a moment when he reached the grassy bank.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "You're quite sure you wish to walk?" he said.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading TIDES Philip paused a moment when he reached the grassy bank.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading "I certainly am," she returned with an effort at lightness.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "You're quite sure you wish to walk?" he said.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I certainly am," she returned with an effort at lightness.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "It's the best thing I can do, now that I've been so careless."
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "You're quite sure you wish to walk?" he said.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "It's the best thing I can do, now that I've been so careless."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TIDES Philip paused a moment when he reached the grassy bank.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
a special situation
From this reading "It's the best thing I can do, now that I've been so careless."
TIDESnounUS /taɪdz/
plural of “tide” — the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading TIDES Philip paused a moment when he reached the grassy bank.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "You're quite sure you wish to walk?" he said.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading "You're quite sure you wish to walk?" he said.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
at the time that
From this reading TIDES Philip paused a moment when he reached the grassy bank.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He set her down gently, and picked up the cushions with one hand while he put the other under her arm, and they started; but there was no path; the points of granite and the grassy hummocks made difficult walking for sound feet.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading "You're quite sure you wish to walk?" he said.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "I certainly am," she returned with an effort at lightness.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You're quite sure you wish to walk?" he said.
You're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You're quite sure you wish to walk?" he said.
