AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
anchoringverbUS /ˈæŋkərɪŋ/
-ing form of “anchor” — fix firmly and stably
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading That end of the tree, at least, supported his weight.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading With six-inch reaches, he began to move out from the ledge.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading He gripped the hemlock tightly, then lowered his body overside.
bowlders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
brinknounUS /brɪŋk/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading BY SINGLE STRAND.
Childress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
danglingnounUS /ˈdæŋɡəlɪŋ/
the act of suspending something (hanging it from above so it moves freely)
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading That end of the tree, at least, supported his weight.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading With six-inch reaches, he began to move out from the ledge.
grippedverbUS /ɡrɪpt/
inflected form of “grip” — hold fast or firmly
From this reading He gripped the hemlock tightly, then lowered his body overside.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
hemlocknounUS /ˈhemlɑːk/
poisonous drug derived from an Eurasian plant of the genus Conium
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading That end of the tree, at least, supported his weight.
ledgenounUS /ledʒ/
a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading With six-inch reaches, he began to move out from the ledge.
staying power
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
loweredadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərd/
below the surround or below the normal position
From this reading He gripped the hemlock tightly, then lowered his body overside.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading With six-inch reaches, he began to move out from the ledge.
oversideadverb
over the side of a boat
From this reading He gripped the hemlock tightly, then lowered his body overside.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
reachesnounUS /ˈriːtʃəz/
plural of “reach” — the limits within which something can be effective
From this reading With six-inch reaches, he began to move out from the ledge.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
severedadjectiveUS /ˈsevərd/
detached by cutting
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
shelfnounUS /ʃelf/
A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading BY SINGLE STRAND.
six-inch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With six-inch reaches, he began to move out from the ledge.
STRANDnounUS /strænd/
a pattern forming a unity within a larger structural whole
From this reading BY SINGLE STRAND.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
supportedadjectiveUS /səˈpɔːrtɪd/
sustained or maintained by aid (as distinct from physical support)
From this reading That end of the tree, at least, supported his weight.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That end of the tree, at least, supported his weight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He gripped the hemlock tightly, then lowered his body overside.
tightlyadverbUS /ˈtaɪtli/
in a tight or constricted manner
From this reading He gripped the hemlock tightly, then lowered his body overside.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading That end of the tree, at least, supported his weight.
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading That end of the tree, at least, supported his weight.
in the company of; together with
From this reading After anchoring the severed trunk of the hemlock upon the shelf with such bowlders as he could move, to prevent, if possible, its turning, Sergeant Childress sat down on the brink, his legs dangling.
