used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A WHITEMAN’S PURPOSE Bill Wilder and Chilcoot moved slowly up from the water’s edge.
advancingadjectiveUS /ədˈvænsɪŋ/
moving forward
From this reading The change of season was advancing with that suddenness which drives the northern man hard.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Still, however, the first snow had not yet fallen, although for days the threat of it had hung over the world.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A WHITEMAN’S PURPOSE Bill Wilder and Chilcoot moved slowly up from the water’s edge.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading A WHITEMAN’S PURPOSE Bill Wilder and Chilcoot moved slowly up from the water’s edge.
make calm or still
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
canoesnounUS /kəˈnuːz/
plural of “canoe” — small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading The change of season was advancing with that suddenness which drives the northern man hard.
Chilcoot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A WHITEMAN’S PURPOSE Bill Wilder and Chilcoot moved slowly up from the water’s edge.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Still, however, the first snow had not yet fallen, although for days the threat of it had hung over the world.
drivesnounUS /draɪvz/
plural of “drive” — the act of applying force to propel something
From this reading The change of season was advancing with that suddenness which drives the northern man hard.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading A WHITEMAN’S PURPOSE Bill Wilder and Chilcoot moved slowly up from the water’s edge.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Still, however, the first snow had not yet fallen, although for days the threat of it had hung over the world.
finaladjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəl/
occurring at or forming an end or termination
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Still, however, the first snow had not yet fallen, although for days the threat of it had hung over the world.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Still, however, the first snow had not yet fallen, although for days the threat of it had hung over the world.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A WHITEMAN’S PURPOSE Bill Wilder and Chilcoot moved slowly up from the water’s edge.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading The outlook was grey and the wind was piercing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The change of season was advancing with that suddenness which drives the northern man hard.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Still, however, the first snow had not yet fallen, although for days the threat of it had hung over the world.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Still, however, the first snow had not yet fallen, although for days the threat of it had hung over the world.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Still, however, the first snow had not yet fallen, although for days the threat of it had hung over the world.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
ladenadjectiveUS /ˈleɪdən/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The change of season was advancing with that suddenness which drives the northern man hard.
the force of workers available
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
mooringsnounUS /ˈmuːrɪŋz/
plural of “mooring” — a place where a craft can be made fast
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading A WHITEMAN’S PURPOSE Bill Wilder and Chilcoot moved slowly up from the water’s edge.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The change of season was advancing with that suddenness which drives the northern man hard.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Still, however, the first snow had not yet fallen, although for days the threat of it had hung over the world.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
oilyadjectiveUS /ˈɔɪli/
containing an unusual amount of grease or oil
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
outlooknounUS /ˈaʊtlʊk/
a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations
From this reading The outlook was grey and the wind was piercing.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Still, however, the first snow had not yet fallen, although for days the threat of it had hung over the world.
piercingadjectiveUS /ˈpɪrsɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading The outlook was grey and the wind was piercing.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading A WHITEMAN’S PURPOSE Bill Wilder and Chilcoot moved slowly up from the water’s edge.
raw-hide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
rockingverbUS /ˈrɑːkɪŋ/
-ing form of “rock” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
ruffledadjectiveUS /ˈrʌfəld/
shaken into waves or undulations as by wind
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading The change of season was advancing with that suddenness which drives the northern man hard.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading A WHITEMAN’S PURPOSE Bill Wilder and Chilcoot moved slowly up from the water’s edge.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading Still, however, the first snow had not yet fallen, although for days the threat of it had hung over the world.
not in physical motion
From this reading Still, however, the first snow had not yet fallen, although for days the threat of it had hung over the world.
stowingnounUS /ˈstoʊwɪŋ/
the act of packing or storing away
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
strainingnounUS /ˈstreɪnɪŋ/
an intense or violent exertion
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
suddennessnounUS /ˈsʌdənnəs/
the quality of happening with headlong haste or without warning
From this reading The change of season was advancing with that suddenness which drives the northern man hard.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The change of season was advancing with that suddenness which drives the northern man hard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A WHITEMAN’S PURPOSE Bill Wilder and Chilcoot moved slowly up from the water’s edge.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
threatnounUS /θret/
something that is a source of danger
From this reading Still, however, the first snow had not yet fallen, although for days the threat of it had hung over the world.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A WHITEMAN’S PURPOSE Bill Wilder and Chilcoot moved slowly up from the water’s edge.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The outlook was grey and the wind was piercing.
water'snounUS /ˈwɔːtərz/
possessive form of “water” — 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 A WHITEMAN’S PURPOSE Bill Wilder and Chilcoot moved slowly up from the water’s edge.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The river behind them was ruffled out of its usual oily calm, and the two small laden canoes, lying against the bank, and the final stowing of which the men had been engaged upon, were rocking and straining at their raw-hide moorings.
WHITEMAN'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A WHITEMAN’S PURPOSE Bill Wilder and Chilcoot moved slowly up from the water’s edge.
WildernounUS /ˈwaɪldər/
United States writer and dramatist (1897-1975)
From this reading A WHITEMAN’S PURPOSE Bill Wilder and Chilcoot moved slowly up from the water’s edge.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The outlook was grey and the wind was piercing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The change of season was advancing with that suddenness which drives the northern man hard.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Still, however, the first snow had not yet fallen, although for days the threat of it had hung over the world.
but in spite of that
From this reading Still, however, the first snow had not yet fallen, although for days the threat of it had hung over the world.
