used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was after they had reached the canyon itself--that awful gash in the earth’s surface--that they would have a problem to solve.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was after they had reached the canyon itself--that awful gash in the earth’s surface--that they would have a problem to solve.
(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 In fact the boys could have walked all the distance in time, or they could have gone by train, or in an auto.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In fact the boys could have walked all the distance in time, or they could have gone by train, or in an auto.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And that problem was how successfully to descend into the gorge, and land on the island.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But their troubles, as they well knew, would not begin at the start.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But their troubles, as they well knew, would not begin at the start.
autonounUS /ˈɔːtoʊ/
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading In fact the boys could have walked all the distance in time, or they could have gone by train, or in an auto.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading It was after they had reached the canyon itself--that awful gash in the earth’s surface--that they would have a problem to solve.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading But their troubles, as they well knew, would not begin at the start.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading In fact the boys could have walked all the distance in time, or they could have gone by train, or in an auto.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But their troubles, as they well knew, would not begin at the start.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In fact the boys could have walked all the distance in time, or they could have gone by train, or in an auto.
CanyonnounUS /ˈkænjən/
a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall
From this reading OVER THE GREAT CHASM There was no particularly difficult task in reaching the Grand Canyon from Denver.
CHASMnounUS /ˈkæzəm/
a deep opening in the earth's surface
From this reading OVER THE GREAT CHASM There was no particularly difficult task in reaching the Grand Canyon from Denver.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In fact the boys could have walked all the distance in time, or they could have gone by train, or in an auto.
DenvernounUS /ˈdenvər/
the state capital and largest city of Colorado; located in central Colorado on the South Platte river
From this reading OVER THE GREAT CHASM There was no particularly difficult task in reaching the Grand Canyon from Denver.
descendverbUS /dɪˈsend/
move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading And that problem was how successfully to descend into the gorge, and land on the island.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading OVER THE GREAT CHASM There was no particularly difficult task in reaching the Grand Canyon from Denver.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading In fact the boys could have walked all the distance in time, or they could have gone by train, or in an auto.
earth'snounUS /ɜːrθs/
possessive form of “earth” — the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading It was after they had reached the canyon itself--that awful gash in the earth’s surface--that they would have a problem to solve.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact the boys could have walked all the distance in time, or they could have gone by train, or in an auto.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading OVER THE GREAT CHASM There was no particularly difficult task in reaching the Grand Canyon from Denver.
gashverbUS /ɡæʃ/
cut open
From this reading It was after they had reached the canyon itself--that awful gash in the earth’s surface--that they would have a problem to solve.
destroyed or killed
From this reading In fact the boys could have walked all the distance in time, or they could have gone by train, or in an auto.
gorgeverbUS /ɡɔːrdʒ/
overeat or eat immodestly; make a pig of oneself
From this reading And that problem was how successfully to descend into the gorge, and land on the island.
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading OVER THE GREAT CHASM There was no particularly difficult task in reaching the Grand Canyon from Denver.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading OVER THE GREAT CHASM There was no particularly difficult task in reaching the Grand Canyon from Denver.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was after they had reached the canyon itself--that awful gash in the earth’s surface--that they would have a problem to solve.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In fact the boys could have walked all the distance in time, or they could have gone by train, or in an auto.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that problem was how successfully to descend into the gorge, and land on the island.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading OVER THE GREAT CHASM There was no particularly difficult task in reaching the Grand Canyon from Denver.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading And that problem was how successfully to descend into the gorge, and land on the island.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading And that problem was how successfully to descend into the gorge, and land on the island.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was after they had reached the canyon itself--that awful gash in the earth’s surface--that they would have a problem to solve.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was after they had reached the canyon itself--that awful gash in the earth’s surface--that they would have a problem to solve.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading But their troubles, as they well knew, would not begin at the start.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading And that problem was how successfully to descend into the gorge, and land on the island.
not any; not one
From this reading OVER THE GREAT CHASM There was no particularly difficult task in reaching the Grand Canyon from Denver.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But their troubles, as they well knew, would not begin at the start.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And that problem was how successfully to descend into the gorge, and land on the island.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In fact the boys could have walked all the distance in time, or they could have gone by train, or in an auto.
OVERprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading OVER THE GREAT CHASM There was no particularly difficult task in reaching the Grand Canyon from Denver.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading OVER THE GREAT CHASM There was no particularly difficult task in reaching the Grand Canyon from Denver.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading It was after they had reached the canyon itself--that awful gash in the earth’s surface--that they would have a problem to solve.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading It was after they had reached the canyon itself--that awful gash in the earth’s surface--that they would have a problem to solve.
the act of physically reaching or thrusting out
From this reading OVER THE GREAT CHASM There was no particularly difficult task in reaching the Grand Canyon from Denver.
solveverbUS /sɑːlv/
find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
From this reading It was after they had reached the canyon itself--that awful gash in the earth’s surface--that they would have a problem to solve.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading But their troubles, as they well knew, would not begin at the start.
successfullyadverbUS /səkˈsesfəli/
with success; in a successful manner
From this reading And that problem was how successfully to descend into the gorge, and land on the island.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading It was after they had reached the canyon itself--that awful gash in the earth’s surface--that they would have a problem to solve.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading OVER THE GREAT CHASM There was no particularly difficult task in reaching the Grand Canyon from Denver.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was after they had reached the canyon itself--that awful gash in the earth’s surface--that they would have a problem to solve.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OVER THE GREAT CHASM There was no particularly difficult task in reaching the Grand Canyon from Denver.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But their troubles, as they well knew, would not begin at the start.
in or at that place or location
From this reading OVER THE GREAT CHASM There was no particularly difficult task in reaching the Grand Canyon from Denver.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In fact the boys could have walked all the distance in time, or they could have gone by train, or in an auto.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In fact the boys could have walked all the distance in time, or they could have gone by train, or in an auto.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was after they had reached the canyon itself--that awful gash in the earth’s surface--that they would have a problem to solve.
create by training and teaching
From this reading In fact the boys could have walked all the distance in time, or they could have gone by train, or in an auto.
plural of “trouble” — a source of difficulty
From this reading But their troubles, as they well knew, would not begin at the start.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading In fact the boys could have walked all the distance in time, or they could have gone by train, or in an auto.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading OVER THE GREAT CHASM There was no particularly difficult task in reaching the Grand Canyon from Denver.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading But their troubles, as they well knew, would not begin at the start.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But their troubles, as they well knew, would not begin at the start.
