used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His uncle preferred reading a long-neglected book in the cabin until bedtime.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Hal had his first glimpse of it shortly after evening coffee when he strolled out on deck alone.
(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 The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Hal had his first glimpse of it shortly after evening coffee when he strolled out on deck alone.
AmazonnounUS /ˈæməzɑːn/
a large strong and aggressive woman
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
bedtimenounUS /ˈbedtaɪm/
the time you go to bed
From this reading His uncle preferred reading a long-neglected book in the cabin until bedtime.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading His uncle preferred reading a long-neglected book in the cabin until bedtime.
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading His uncle preferred reading a long-neglected book in the cabin until bedtime.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
cigarettenounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈet/
finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
From this reading Hal stood with his elbows resting on the polished rail and placidly puffed a cigarette.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
From this reading Hal had his first glimpse of it shortly after evening coffee when he strolled out on deck alone.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading Hal had his first glimpse of it shortly after evening coffee when he strolled out on deck alone.
elbowsnounUS /ˈelboʊz/
plural of “elbow” — hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading Hal stood with his elbows resting on the polished rail and placidly puffed a cigarette.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Hal had his first glimpse of it shortly after evening coffee when he strolled out on deck alone.
featheryadjectiveUS /ˈfeðəri/
resembling or suggesting a feather or feathers
From this reading The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Hal had his first glimpse of it shortly after evening coffee when he strolled out on deck alone.
a quick look
From this reading Hal had his first glimpse of it shortly after evening coffee when he strolled out on deck alone.
a state of high honor
From this reading The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
Hal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hal had his first glimpse of it shortly after evening coffee when he strolled out on deck alone.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hal had his first glimpse of it shortly after evening coffee when he strolled out on deck alone.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Hal had his first glimpse of it shortly after evening coffee when he strolled out on deck alone.
imprisonedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈprɪzənd/
being in captivity
From this reading The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His uncle preferred reading a long-neglected book in the cabin until bedtime.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Hal had his first glimpse of it shortly after evening coffee when he strolled out on deck alone.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
immediately past
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
long-neglected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His uncle preferred reading a long-neglected book in the cabin until bedtime.
most important element
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
NarrowsnounUS /ˈneroʊz/
plural of “narrow” — a narrow strait connecting two bodies of water
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
nightfallnounUS /ˈnaɪtfɔːl/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Hal had his first glimpse of it shortly after evening coffee when he strolled out on deck alone.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
placidlyadverbUS /ˈplæsɪdli/
in a quiet and tranquil manner
From this reading Hal stood with his elbows resting on the polished rail and placidly puffed a cigarette.
polishedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃt/
perfected or made shiny and smooth
From this reading Hal stood with his elbows resting on the polished rail and placidly puffed a cigarette.
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/
more desirable than another
From this reading His uncle preferred reading a long-neglected book in the cabin until bedtime.
puffedadjectiveUS /pʌft/
gathered for protruding fullness
From this reading Hal stood with his elbows resting on the polished rail and placidly puffed a cigarette.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading Hal stood with his elbows resting on the polished rail and placidly puffed a cigarette.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading His uncle preferred reading a long-neglected book in the cabin until bedtime.
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Hal stood with his elbows resting on the polished rail and placidly puffed a cigarette.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
for a short time
From this reading Hal had his first glimpse of it shortly after evening coffee when he strolled out on deck alone.
steamer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Hal stood with his elbows resting on the polished rail and placidly puffed a cigarette.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
strolledverbUS /stroʊld/
past form of “stroll” — walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
From this reading Hal had his first glimpse of it shortly after evening coffee when he strolled out on deck alone.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
surgingadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrdʒɪŋ/
characterized by great swelling waves or surges
From this reading The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading His uncle preferred reading a long-neglected book in the cabin until bedtime.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading His uncle preferred reading a long-neglected book in the cabin until bedtime.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
at the time that
From this reading Hal had his first glimpse of it shortly after evening coffee when he strolled out on deck alone.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Hal stood with his elbows resting on the polished rail and placidly puffed a cigarette.
wormed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By nightfall they had wormed their way out of the Narrows and came at last to the main stream of the Amazon River.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading The setting sun in all its glory was imprisoned behind a mass of feathery clouds and reflected in the dark yellow water surging under the steamer’s bow.
