used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The ascent was exceedingly trying, for the incline was steep and it was at times difficult to get a firm footing.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading But they were repaid for the exertion, for they had reached the highest point of the island and could see all over it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Let's go up to that point and look around.”
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Let's go up to that point and look around.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As far as their vision reached there was nothing beyond the little island except the glistening waves that reached out till they met the sky in all directions.
ascentnounUS /əˈsent/
an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
From this reading The ascent was exceedingly trying, for the incline was steep and it was at times difficult to get a firm footing.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The ascent was exceedingly trying, for the incline was steep and it was at times difficult to get a firm footing.
balloonnounUS /bəˈluːn/
large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air
From this reading High up in the clouds they saw the balloon, now steadily drifting with the wind toward the south.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading As far as their vision reached there was nothing beyond the little island except the glistening waves that reached out till they met the sky in all directions.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But they were repaid for the exertion, for they had reached the highest point of the island and could see all over it.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading High up in the clouds they saw the balloon, now steadily drifting with the wind toward the south.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But they were repaid for the exertion, for they had reached the highest point of the island and could see all over it.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The ascent was exceedingly trying, for the incline was steep and it was at times difficult to get a firm footing.
plural of “direction” — a line leading to a place or point
From this reading As far as their vision reached there was nothing beyond the little island except the glistening waves that reached out till they met the sky in all directions.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading High up in the clouds they saw the balloon, now steadily drifting with the wind toward the south.
to an extreme degree
From this reading The ascent was exceedingly trying, for the incline was steep and it was at times difficult to get a firm footing.
apart from; not including
From this reading As far as their vision reached there was nothing beyond the little island except the glistening waves that reached out till they met the sky in all directions.
exertionnounUS /ɪɡˈzɜːrʃən/
use of physical or mental energy; hard work
From this reading But they were repaid for the exertion, for they had reached the highest point of the island and could see all over it.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading As far as their vision reached there was nothing beyond the little island except the glistening waves that reached out till they met the sky in all directions.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading The ascent was exceedingly trying, for the incline was steep and it was at times difficult to get a firm footing.
footingnounUS /ˈfʊtɪŋ/
status with respect to the relations between people or groups
From this reading The ascent was exceedingly trying, for the incline was steep and it was at times difficult to get a firm footing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The ascent was exceedingly trying, for the incline was steep and it was at times difficult to get a firm footing.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The ascent was exceedingly trying, for the incline was steep and it was at times difficult to get a firm footing.
glisteningadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪsənɪŋ/
reflecting light
From this reading As far as their vision reached there was nothing beyond the little island except the glistening waves that reached out till they met the sky in all directions.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Let's go up to that point and look around.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But they were repaid for the exertion, for they had reached the highest point of the island and could see all over it.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading High up in the clouds they saw the balloon, now steadily drifting with the wind toward the south.
superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading But they were repaid for the exertion, for they had reached the highest point of the island and could see all over it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As far as their vision reached there was nothing beyond the little island except the glistening waves that reached out till they met the sky in all directions.
inclinenounUS /ˌɪnˈklaɪn/
an elevated geological formation
From this reading The ascent was exceedingly trying, for the incline was steep and it was at times difficult to get a firm footing.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading But they were repaid for the exertion, for they had reached the highest point of the island and could see all over it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The ascent was exceedingly trying, for the incline was steep and it was at times difficult to get a firm footing.
Let's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Let's go up to that point and look around.”
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As far as their vision reached there was nothing beyond the little island except the glistening waves that reached out till they met the sky in all directions.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Let's go up to that point and look around.”
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading As far as their vision reached there was nothing beyond the little island except the glistening waves that reached out till they met the sky in all directions.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading As far as their vision reached there was nothing beyond the little island except the glistening waves that reached out till they met the sky in all directions.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading High up in the clouds they saw the balloon, now steadily drifting with the wind toward the south.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But they were repaid for the exertion, for they had reached the highest point of the island and could see all over it.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading As far as their vision reached there was nothing beyond the little island except the glistening waves that reached out till they met the sky in all directions.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But they were repaid for the exertion, for they had reached the highest point of the island and could see all over it.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Let's go up to that point and look around.”
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading But they were repaid for the exertion, for they had reached the highest point of the island and could see all over it.
repaidverbUS /riˈpeɪd/
inflected form of “repay” — pay back
From this reading But they were repaid for the exertion, for they had reached the highest point of the island and could see all over it.
cut with a saw
From this reading High up in the clouds they saw the balloon, now steadily drifting with the wind toward the south.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading But they were repaid for the exertion, for they had reached the highest point of the island and could see all over it.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading As far as their vision reached there was nothing beyond the little island except the glistening waves that reached out till they met the sky in all directions.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading High up in the clouds they saw the balloon, now steadily drifting with the wind toward the south.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading High up in the clouds they saw the balloon, now steadily drifting with the wind toward the south.
steepadjectiveUS /stiːp/
having a sharp inclination
From this reading The ascent was exceedingly trying, for the incline was steep and it was at times difficult to get a firm footing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Let's go up to that point and look around.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The ascent was exceedingly trying, for the incline was steep and it was at times difficult to get a firm footing.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading As far as their vision reached there was nothing beyond the little island except the glistening waves that reached out till they met the sky in all directions.
in or at that place or location
From this reading As far as their vision reached there was nothing beyond the little island except the glistening waves that reached out till they met the sky in all directions.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But they were repaid for the exertion, for they had reached the highest point of the island and could see all over it.
up to a particular time
From this reading As far as their vision reached there was nothing beyond the little island except the glistening waves that reached out till they met the sky in all directions.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading The ascent was exceedingly trying, for the incline was steep and it was at times difficult to get a firm footing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Let's go up to that point and look around.”
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading High up in the clouds they saw the balloon, now steadily drifting with the wind toward the south.
hard to endure
From this reading The ascent was exceedingly trying, for the incline was steep and it was at times difficult to get a firm footing.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Let's go up to that point and look around.”
a vivid mental image
From this reading As far as their vision reached there was nothing beyond the little island except the glistening waves that reached out till they met the sky in all directions.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The ascent was exceedingly trying, for the incline was steep and it was at times difficult to get a firm footing.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading As far as their vision reached there was nothing beyond the little island except the glistening waves that reached out till they met the sky in all directions.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But they were repaid for the exertion, for they had reached the highest point of the island and could see all over it.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading High up in the clouds they saw the balloon, now steadily drifting with the wind toward the south.
in the company of; together with
From this reading High up in the clouds they saw the balloon, now steadily drifting with the wind toward the south.
