used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The country encountered from the start had been a soft powdery sand formation, with occasional belts of dwarfed eucalypti, which intervened from the north.
advisableadjectiveUS /ədˈvaɪzəbəl/
worthy of being recommended or suggested; prudent or wise
From this reading Progress was necessarily slow at this early stage of the journey, for it was advisable to allow the camels to harden to their work gradually.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading Progress was necessarily slow at this early stage of the journey, for it was advisable to allow the camels to harden to their work gradually.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
anglingnounUS /ˈæŋɡlɪŋ/
fishing with a hook and line (and usually a pole)
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
approximateverbUS /əˈprɑːksəmət/
be close or similar
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
on or to one side
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
AwkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
beltsnounUS /belts/
plural of “belt” — endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading The country encountered from the start had been a soft powdery sand formation, with occasional belts of dwarfed eucalypti, which intervened from the north.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
calculateverbUS /ˈkælkjəleɪt/
make a mathematical calculation or computation
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
camelsnounUS /ˈkæməlz/
plural of “camel” — cud-chewing mammal used as a draft or saddle animal in desert regions
From this reading Progress was necessarily slow at this early stage of the journey, for it was advisable to allow the camels to harden to their work gradually.
conferencenounUS /ˈkɑːnfərəns/
a prearranged meeting for consultation or exchange of information or discussion (especially one with a formal agenda)
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The country encountered from the start had been a soft powdery sand formation, with occasional belts of dwarfed eucalypti, which intervened from the north.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
dwarfedverbUS /dwɔːrft/
past form of “dwarf” — make appear small by comparison
From this reading The country encountered from the start had been a soft powdery sand formation, with occasional belts of dwarfed eucalypti, which intervened from the north.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Progress was necessarily slow at this early stage of the journey, for it was advisable to allow the camels to harden to their work gradually.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
being one more than seven
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
eightyadjectiveUS /ˈeɪti/
being ten more than seventy
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
encounteredverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntərd/
past form of “encounter” — come together
From this reading The country encountered from the start had been a soft powdery sand formation, with occasional belts of dwarfed eucalypti, which intervened from the north.
eucalyptinounUS /ˌjuːkəˈlɪptaɪ/
plural of “eucalyptus” — wood of any of various eucalyptus trees valued as timber
From this reading The country encountered from the start had been a soft powdery sand formation, with occasional belts of dwarfed eucalypti, which intervened from the north.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Progress was necessarily slow at this early stage of the journey, for it was advisable to allow the camels to harden to their work gradually.
formationnounUS /fɔːrˈmeɪʃən/
an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit
From this reading The country encountered from the start had been a soft powdery sand formation, with occasional belts of dwarfed eucalypti, which intervened from the north.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The country encountered from the start had been a soft powdery sand formation, with occasional belts of dwarfed eucalypti, which intervened from the north.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Progress was necessarily slow at this early stage of the journey, for it was advisable to allow the camels to harden to their work gradually.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
haltverbUS /hɔːlt/
cause to stop
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
hardenverbUS /ˈhɑːrdən/
become hard or harder
From this reading Progress was necessarily slow at this early stage of the journey, for it was advisable to allow the camels to harden to their work gradually.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
cause to move by striking
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
ten 10s
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
intervenedverbUS /ˌɪntərˈviːnd/
past form of “intervene” — get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action, or through force or threat of force
From this reading The country encountered from the start had been a soft powdery sand formation, with occasional belts of dwarfed eucalypti, which intervened from the north.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Progress was necessarily slow at this early stage of the journey, for it was advisable to allow the camels to harden to their work gradually.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading Progress was necessarily slow at this early stage of the journey, for it was advisable to allow the camels to harden to their work gradually.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
latitudenounUS /ˈlætətuːd/
the angular distance between an imaginary line around a heavenly body parallel to its equator and the equator itself
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
Mackay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
march in a procession
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
necessarilyadverbUS /ˌnesəˈserəli/
in an essential manner
From this reading Progress was necessarily slow at this early stage of the journey, for it was advisable to allow the camels to harden to their work gradually.
the middle of the day
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The country encountered from the start had been a soft powdery sand formation, with occasional belts of dwarfed eucalypti, which intervened from the north.
northerlyadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrðərli/
situated in or oriented toward the north
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading The country encountered from the start had been a soft powdery sand formation, with occasional belts of dwarfed eucalypti, which intervened from the north.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The country encountered from the start had been a soft powdery sand formation, with occasional belts of dwarfed eucalypti, which intervened from the north.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
powderyadjectiveUS /ˈpaʊdəri/
consisting of fine particles
From this reading The country encountered from the start had been a soft powdery sand formation, with occasional belts of dwarfed eucalypti, which intervened from the north.
PredicamentnounUS /prɪˈdɪkəmənt/
a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading Progress was necessarily slow at this early stage of the journey, for it was advisable to allow the camels to harden to their work gradually.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading The country encountered from the start had been a soft powdery sand formation, with occasional belts of dwarfed eucalypti, which intervened from the north.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading Progress was necessarily slow at this early stage of the journey, for it was advisable to allow the camels to harden to their work gradually.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The country encountered from the start had been a soft powdery sand formation, with occasional belts of dwarfed eucalypti, which intervened from the north.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading Progress was necessarily slow at this early stage of the journey, for it was advisable to allow the camels to harden to their work gradually.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The country encountered from the start had been a soft powdery sand formation, with occasional belts of dwarfed eucalypti, which intervened from the north.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
steeringnounUS /ˈstɪrɪŋ/
the act of guiding or showing the way
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Progress was necessarily slow at this early stage of the journey, for it was advisable to allow the camels to harden to their work gradually.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mackay had so far led the march, steering an approximate course by the sun, but immediately they stopped, he called Bob aside for a conference.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Progress was necessarily slow at this early stage of the journey, for it was advisable to allow the camels to harden to their work gradually.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Progress was necessarily slow at this early stage of the journey, for it was advisable to allow the camels to harden to their work gradually.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
traversedverbUS /ˈtrævərst/
past form of “traverse” — travel across or pass over
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
weeadjectiveUS /wiː/
(used informally) very small
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
at the time that
From this reading An Awkward Predicament The first halt was made at noon when little more than eight miles had been traversed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The country encountered from the start had been a soft powdery sand formation, with occasional belts of dwarfed eucalypti, which intervened from the north.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The country encountered from the start had been a soft powdery sand formation, with occasional belts of dwarfed eucalypti, which intervened from the north.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Progress was necessarily slow at this early stage of the journey, for it was advisable to allow the camels to harden to their work gradually.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You see," he said, "when we went out before we started from a more northerly latitude, an' I calculate we should hit our old track in another hundred and eighty miles if we keep angling in a wee bit north o' east.
