used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading The light could not have been more than a few hundred feet in advance of us; in its glow we could sometimes see the outlines of the human figure carrying it.
at or in the front
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
AlongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Along here it was a rolling, but fairly even bank of ooze, with grotesque squat plants growing in it.
using the voice; not silently
From this reading We did not dare speak aloud now; we swam with that speed and silence which only one who lives in the water can attain.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We did not dare speak aloud now; we swam with that speed and silence which only one who lives in the water can attain.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
attainverbUS /əˈteɪn/
to gain with effort
From this reading We did not dare speak aloud now; we swam with that speed and silence which only one who lives in the water can attain.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Along here it was a rolling, but fairly even bank of ooze, with grotesque squat plants growing in it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The light could not have been more than a few hundred feet in advance of us; in its glow we could sometimes see the outlines of the human figure carrying it.
blottedverbUS /ˈblɑːtəd/
inflected form of “blot” — dry (ink) with blotting paper
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
the lower side of anything
From this reading We were close to the bottom now.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Along here it was a rolling, but fairly even bank of ooze, with grotesque squat plants growing in it.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading We did not dare speak aloud now; we swam with that speed and silence which only one who lives in the water can attain.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The light could not have been more than a few hundred feet in advance of us; in its glow we could sometimes see the outlines of the human figure carrying it.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading We were close to the bottom now.
coralnounUS /ˈkɔːrəl/
a variable color averaging a deep pink
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The light could not have been more than a few hundred feet in advance of us; in its glow we could sometimes see the outlines of the human figure carrying it.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading We did not dare speak aloud now; we swam with that speed and silence which only one who lives in the water can attain.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading We did not dare speak aloud now; we swam with that speed and silence which only one who lives in the water can attain.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
divisible by two
From this reading Along here it was a rolling, but fairly even bank of ooze, with grotesque squat plants growing in it.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading Along here it was a rolling, but fairly even bank of ooze, with grotesque squat plants growing in it.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The light could not have been more than a few hundred feet in advance of us; in its glow we could sometimes see the outlines of the human figure carrying it.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The light could not have been more than a few hundred feet in advance of us; in its glow we could sometimes see the outlines of the human figure carrying it.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading The light could not have been more than a few hundred feet in advance of us; in its glow we could sometimes see the outlines of the human figure carrying it.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading The light could not have been more than a few hundred feet in advance of us; in its glow we could sometimes see the outlines of the human figure carrying it.
grotesqueadjectiveUS /ɡroʊˈtesk/
distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous
From this reading Along here it was a rolling, but fairly even bank of ooze, with grotesque squat plants growing in it.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading Along here it was a rolling, but fairly even bank of ooze, with grotesque squat plants growing in it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The light could not have been more than a few hundred feet in advance of us; in its glow we could sometimes see the outlines of the human figure carrying it.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Along here it was a rolling, but fairly even bank of ooze, with grotesque squat plants growing in it.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading The light could not have been more than a few hundred feet in advance of us; in its glow we could sometimes see the outlines of the human figure carrying it.
ten 10s
From this reading The light could not have been more than a few hundred feet in advance of us; in its glow we could sometimes see the outlines of the human figure carrying it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Along here it was a rolling, but fairly even bank of ooze, with grotesque squat plants growing in it.
interveningadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈviːnɪŋ/
occurring or falling between events or points in time
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The light could not have been more than a few hundred feet in advance of us; in its glow we could sometimes see the outlines of the human figure carrying it.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading We did not dare speak aloud now; we swam with that speed and silence which only one who lives in the water can attain.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
momentarilyadverbUS /ˌmoʊmənˈterəli/
for an instant or moment
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The light could not have been more than a few hundred feet in advance of us; in its glow we could sometimes see the outlines of the human figure carrying it.
mud-bank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The light could not have been more than a few hundred feet in advance of us; in its glow we could sometimes see the outlines of the human figure carrying it.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading We were close to the bottom now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading We did not dare speak aloud now; we swam with that speed and silence which only one who lives in the water can attain.
and nothing more
From this reading We did not dare speak aloud now; we swam with that speed and silence which only one who lives in the water can attain.
oozenounUS /uːz/
any thick, viscous matter
From this reading Along here it was a rolling, but fairly even bank of ooze, with grotesque squat plants growing in it.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
outlinesnounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪnz/
plural of “outline” — the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading The light could not have been more than a few hundred feet in advance of us; in its glow we could sometimes see the outlines of the human figure carrying it.
by chance
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
plantsnounUS /plænts/
plural of “plant” — buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading Along here it was a rolling, but fairly even bank of ooze, with grotesque squat plants growing in it.
uttered with a trill
From this reading Along here it was a rolling, but fairly even bank of ooze, with grotesque squat plants growing in it.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The light could not have been more than a few hundred feet in advance of us; in its glow we could sometimes see the outlines of the human figure carrying it.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading We did not dare speak aloud now; we swam with that speed and silence which only one who lives in the water can attain.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading The light could not have been more than a few hundred feet in advance of us; in its glow we could sometimes see the outlines of the human figure carrying it.
express in speech
From this reading We did not dare speak aloud now; we swam with that speed and silence which only one who lives in the water can attain.
move hurridly
From this reading We did not dare speak aloud now; we swam with that speed and silence which only one who lives in the water can attain.
squatverbUS /skwɑːt/
sit on one's heels
From this reading Along here it was a rolling, but fairly even bank of ooze, with grotesque squat plants growing in it.
swamverbUS /swæm/
inflected form of “swim” — travel through water
From this reading We did not dare speak aloud now; we swam with that speed and silence which only one who lives in the water can attain.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The light could not have been more than a few hundred feet in advance of us; in its glow we could sometimes see the outlines of the human figure carrying it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We did not dare speak aloud now; we swam with that speed and silence which only one who lives in the water can attain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
the-wisp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We were close to the bottom now.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Along here it was a rolling, but fairly even bank of ooze, with grotesque squat plants growing in it.
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 We did not dare speak aloud now; we swam with that speed and silence which only one who lives in the water can attain.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were close to the bottom now.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were close to the bottom now.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We did not dare speak aloud now; we swam with that speed and silence which only one who lives in the water can attain.
which person or people
From this reading We did not dare speak aloud now; we swam with that speed and silence which only one who lives in the water can attain.
will-o
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
winkedverbUS /wɪŋkt/
past form of “wink” — signal by winking
From this reading The light ahead of us winked like a will-o’-the-wisp as intervening branches of coral, the edge of a mud-bank, or perhaps the body of some living creature, momentarily blotted it out.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Along here it was a rolling, but fairly even bank of ooze, with grotesque squat plants growing in it.
