(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The swelter of heat was of almost tropical intensity.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading No wisp of cloud marred the perfect purity of the steely blue sky, and no breath of wind relieved the intemperate scorch of the blazing sun.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The sub-Arctic summer was at its height.
attacksnounUS /əˈtæks/
plural of “attack” — (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading The two men on the river bank gave no heed to the oppressive heat.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
blazingadjectiveUS /ˈbleɪzɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading No wisp of cloud marred the perfect purity of the steely blue sky, and no breath of wind relieved the intemperate scorch of the blazing sun.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading No wisp of cloud marred the perfect purity of the steely blue sky, and no breath of wind relieved the intemperate scorch of the blazing sun.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading No wisp of cloud marred the perfect purity of the steely blue sky, and no breath of wind relieved the intemperate scorch of the blazing sun.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading No wisp of cloud marred the perfect purity of the steely blue sky, and no breath of wind relieved the intemperate scorch of the blazing sun.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
move gently or carefully
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
start firing a weapon
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The two men on the river bank gave no heed to the oppressive heat.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading The swelter of heat was of almost tropical intensity.
heednounUS /hiːd/
paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people)
From this reading The two men on the river bank gave no heed to the oppressive heat.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading The sub-Arctic summer was at its height.
intemperateadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtempərət/
(of weather or climate) not mild; subject to extremes
From this reading No wisp of cloud marred the perfect purity of the steely blue sky, and no breath of wind relieved the intemperate scorch of the blazing sun.
intensitynounUS /ɪnˈtensəti/
the amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation)
From this reading The swelter of heat was of almost tropical intensity.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The sub-Arctic summer was at its height.
marredadjectiveUS /mɑːrd/
blemished by injury or rough wear
From this reading No wisp of cloud marred the perfect purity of the steely blue sky, and no breath of wind relieved the intemperate scorch of the blazing sun.
the force of workers available
From this reading The two men on the river bank gave no heed to the oppressive heat.
a particular point in time
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
mosquitoesnounUS /məˈskiːtoʊz/
plural of “mosquito” — two-winged insect whose female has a long proboscis to pierce the skin and suck the blood of humans and animals
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
not any; not one
From this reading No wisp of cloud marred the perfect purity of the steely blue sky, and no breath of wind relieved the intemperate scorch of the blazing sun.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The swelter of heat was of almost tropical intensity.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The two men on the river bank gave no heed to the oppressive heat.
oppressiveadjectiveUS /əˈpresɪv/
weighing heavily on the senses or spirit
From this reading The two men on the river bank gave no heed to the oppressive heat.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading No wisp of cloud marred the perfect purity of the steely blue sky, and no breath of wind relieved the intemperate scorch of the blazing sun.
shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
puritynounUS /ˈpjʊrəti/
being undiluted or unmixed with extraneous material
From this reading No wisp of cloud marred the perfect purity of the steely blue sky, and no breath of wind relieved the intemperate scorch of the blazing sun.
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading No wisp of cloud marred the perfect purity of the steely blue sky, and no breath of wind relieved the intemperate scorch of the blazing sun.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The two men on the river bank gave no heed to the oppressive heat.
scorchverbUS /skɔːrtʃ/
make very hot and dry
From this reading No wisp of cloud marred the perfect purity of the steely blue sky, and no breath of wind relieved the intemperate scorch of the blazing sun.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading No wisp of cloud marred the perfect purity of the steely blue sky, and no breath of wind relieved the intemperate scorch of the blazing sun.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
steelyadjectiveUS /ˈstiːli/
resembling steel as in hardness
From this reading No wisp of cloud marred the perfect purity of the steely blue sky, and no breath of wind relieved the intemperate scorch of the blazing sun.
sub-Arctic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sub-Arctic summer was at its height.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The sub-Arctic summer was at its height.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading No wisp of cloud marred the perfect purity of the steely blue sky, and no breath of wind relieved the intemperate scorch of the blazing sun.
swarmingverbUS /ˈswɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
swelterverbUS /ˈsweltər/
be uncomfortably hot
From this reading The swelter of heat was of almost tropical intensity.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sub-Arctic summer was at its height.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The two men on the river bank gave no heed to the oppressive heat.
tropicaladjectiveUS /ˈtrɑːpɪkəl/
relating to or situated in or characteristic of the tropics (the region on either side of the equator)
From this reading The swelter of heat was of almost tropical intensity.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two men on the river bank gave no heed to the oppressive heat.
voraciousadjectiveUS /vɔːˈreɪʃəs/
excessively greedy and grasping
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sub-Arctic summer was at its height.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading No wisp of cloud marred the perfect purity of the steely blue sky, and no breath of wind relieved the intemperate scorch of the blazing sun.
wispnounUS /wɪsp/
a small tuft or lock
From this reading No wisp of cloud marred the perfect purity of the steely blue sky, and no breath of wind relieved the intemperate scorch of the blazing sun.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For the moment they seemed concerned with nothing but their ease, and the swarming flies, and the voracious attacks of the mosquitoes from which the smoke of their camp fire did its best to protect them.
