used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Comet had now a guide.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “It was interesting, but uncomfortable,” Miss Campbell had said.
CampbellnounUS /ˈkæmbəl/
United States mythologist (1904-1987)
From this reading “It was interesting, but uncomfortable,” Miss Campbell had said.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
CometnounUS /ˈkɑːmət/
(astronomy) a relatively small extraterrestrial body consisting of a frozen mass that travels around the sun in a highly elliptical orbit
From this reading The Comet had now a guide.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
excursionsnounUS /ɪkˈskɜːrʒənz/
plural of “excursion” — a journey taken for pleasure
From this reading No more excursions into the wilderness of the unknown for him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading No more excursions into the wilderness of the unknown for him.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
good-bynoun
a farewell remark
From this reading With a sigh of relief they said good-by to Steptoe Lodge.
someone employed to conduct others
From this reading The Comet had now a guide.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Comet had now a guide.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
highwaynounUS /ˈhaɪweɪ/
a major road for any form of motor transport
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading No more excursions into the wilderness of the unknown for him.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading “It was interesting, but uncomfortable,” Miss Campbell had said.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading No more excursions into the wilderness of the unknown for him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It was interesting, but uncomfortable,” Miss Campbell had said.
LodgeverbUS /lɑːdʒ/
be a lodger; stay temporarily
From this reading With a sigh of relief they said good-by to Steptoe Lodge.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading “It was interesting, but uncomfortable,” Miss Campbell had said.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading No more excursions into the wilderness of the unknown for him.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
not any; not one
From this reading No more excursions into the wilderness of the unknown for him.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The Comet had now a guide.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading No more excursions into the wilderness of the unknown for him.
PacificnounUS /pəˈsɪfɪk/
the largest ocean in the world
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
RailroadnounUS /ˈreɪlroʊd/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
rangesnounUS /ˈreɪndʒəz/
plural of “range” — an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading With a sigh of relief they said good-by to Steptoe Lodge.
move upward
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
RockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
ruggedadjectiveUS /ˈrʌɡəd/
sturdy and strong in constitution or construction; enduring
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading With a sigh of relief they said good-by to Steptoe Lodge.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading With a sigh of relief they said good-by to Steptoe Lodge.
snow-cappedadjective
(of mountains) capped with a covering of snow
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
Steptoe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sigh of relief they said good-by to Steptoe Lodge.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Comet had now a guide.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
TimidlyadverbUS /ˈtɪmədli/
in a shy or timid or bashful manner
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
tracksnounUS /træks/
plural of “track” — a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading “It was interesting, but uncomfortable,” Miss Campbell had said.
an organization of employees formed to bargain with the employer
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
not known
From this reading No more excursions into the wilderness of the unknown for him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It was interesting, but uncomfortable,” Miss Campbell had said.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
in or at the place that
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading No more excursions into the wilderness of the unknown for him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a sigh of relief they said good-by to Steptoe Lodge.
