used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A few hundred feet further on, Iimmi sighted the spires above the trees, still across the river from them.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading A few hundred feet further on, Iimmi sighted the spires above the trees, still across the river from them.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Across from them, they could make out an obviously man-made stone embankment.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Across from them, they could make out an obviously man-made stone embankment.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They could figure nothing for an explanation, till suddenly the trees ceased on the opposite bank and the buildings and towers of a great city broke the sky.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Look at the far bank," he said.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading "Look at the far bank," he said.
lacking funds
From this reading They could figure nothing for an explanation, till suddenly the trees ceased on the opposite bank and the buildings and towers of a great city broke the sky.
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading They could figure nothing for an explanation, till suddenly the trees ceased on the opposite bank and the buildings and towers of a great city broke the sky.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading They could figure nothing for an explanation, till suddenly the trees ceased on the opposite bank and the buildings and towers of a great city broke the sky.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading They could figure nothing for an explanation, till suddenly the trees ceased on the opposite bank and the buildings and towers of a great city broke the sky.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Across from them, they could make out an obviously man-made stone embankment.
embankmentnounUS /emˈbæŋkmənt/
a long artificial mound of stone or earth; built to hold back water or to support a road or as protection
From this reading Across from them, they could make out an obviously man-made stone embankment.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading They could figure nothing for an explanation, till suddenly the trees ceased on the opposite bank and the buildings and towers of a great city broke the sky.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading "Look at the far bank," he said.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading A few hundred feet further on, Iimmi sighted the spires above the trees, still across the river from them.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few hundred feet further on, Iimmi sighted the spires above the trees, still across the river from them.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading They could figure nothing for an explanation, till suddenly the trees ceased on the opposite bank and the buildings and towers of a great city broke the sky.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was Urson who first pointed it out.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They could figure nothing for an explanation, till suddenly the trees ceased on the opposite bank and the buildings and towers of a great city broke the sky.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Across from them, they could make out an obviously man-made stone embankment.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading A few hundred feet further on, Iimmi sighted the spires above the trees, still across the river from them.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading They could figure nothing for an explanation, till suddenly the trees ceased on the opposite bank and the buildings and towers of a great city broke the sky.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Look at the far bank," he said.
ten 10s
From this reading A few hundred feet further on, Iimmi sighted the spires above the trees, still across the river from them.
Iimmi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few hundred feet further on, Iimmi sighted the spires above the trees, still across the river from them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Urson who first pointed it out.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "Look at the far bank," he said.
engage in
From this reading Across from them, they could make out an obviously man-made stone embankment.
man-madeadjectiveUS /ˈmænmeɪd/
not of natural origin; prepared or made artificially
From this reading Across from them, they could make out an obviously man-made stone embankment.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading They could figure nothing for an explanation, till suddenly the trees ceased on the opposite bank and the buildings and towers of a great city broke the sky.
obviouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːbviəsli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Across from them, they could make out an obviously man-made stone embankment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They could figure nothing for an explanation, till suddenly the trees ceased on the opposite bank and the buildings and towers of a great city broke the sky.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A few hundred feet further on, Iimmi sighted the spires above the trees, still across the river from them.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading They could figure nothing for an explanation, till suddenly the trees ceased on the opposite bank and the buildings and towers of a great city broke the sky.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was Urson who first pointed it out.
having a point
From this reading It was Urson who first pointed it out.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading A few hundred feet further on, Iimmi sighted the spires above the trees, still across the river from them.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Look at the far bank," he said.
sightedadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪtɪd/
able to see
From this reading A few hundred feet further on, Iimmi sighted the spires above the trees, still across the river from them.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading They could figure nothing for an explanation, till suddenly the trees ceased on the opposite bank and the buildings and towers of a great city broke the sky.
spiresnounUS /spaɪrz/
plural of “spire” — a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top
From this reading A few hundred feet further on, Iimmi sighted the spires above the trees, still across the river from them.
not in physical motion
From this reading A few hundred feet further on, Iimmi sighted the spires above the trees, still across the river from them.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Across from them, they could make out an obviously man-made stone embankment.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading They could figure nothing for an explanation, till suddenly the trees ceased on the opposite bank and the buildings and towers of a great city broke the sky.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Look at the far bank," he said.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Across from them, they could make out an obviously man-made stone embankment.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Across from them, they could make out an obviously man-made stone embankment.
up to a particular time
From this reading They could figure nothing for an explanation, till suddenly the trees ceased on the opposite bank and the buildings and towers of a great city broke the sky.
towersnounUS /ˈtaʊərz/
plural of “tower” — a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading They could figure nothing for an explanation, till suddenly the trees ceased on the opposite bank and the buildings and towers of a great city broke the sky.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading A few hundred feet further on, Iimmi sighted the spires above the trees, still across the river from them.
Urson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Urson who first pointed it out.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Urson who first pointed it out.
which person or people
From this reading It was Urson who first pointed it out.
