used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Skirting the shore of the laguna, the party soon reached a tolerably good road.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
any thing at all
From this reading As if anything immersed in that chocolate-hued fluid could emerge purer than it entered.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As if anything immersed in that chocolate-hued fluid could emerge purer than it entered.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
bluffnounUS /blʌf/
a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
chocolate-hued
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As if anything immersed in that chocolate-hued fluid could emerge purer than it entered.
ConfuciusnounUS /kənˈfjuːʃəs/
Chinese philosopher whose ideas and sayings were collected after his death and became the basis of a philosophical doctrine known a Confucianism (circa 551-478 BC)
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As if anything immersed in that chocolate-hued fluid could emerge purer than it entered.
dignifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdɪɡnəfaɪd/
having or expressing dignity; especially formality or stateliness in bearing or appearance
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
dippingverbUS /ˈdɪpɪŋ/
inflected form of “dip” — immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
emergeverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒ/
come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading As if anything immersed in that chocolate-hued fluid could emerge purer than it entered.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading As if anything immersed in that chocolate-hued fluid could emerge purer than it entered.
plural of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
fluidnounUS /ˈfluːəd/
a substance that is fluid at room temperature and pressure
From this reading As if anything immersed in that chocolate-hued fluid could emerge purer than it entered.
gangnounUS /ɡæŋ/
an association of criminals
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Skirting the shore of the laguna, the party soon reached a tolerably good road.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
headlands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
temporary military shelter
From this reading The Lone Hut—The Torture!
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading As if anything immersed in that chocolate-hued fluid could emerge purer than it entered.
immersedverbUS /ˌɪˈmɜːrst/
past form of “immerse” — thrust or throw into
From this reading As if anything immersed in that chocolate-hued fluid could emerge purer than it entered.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As if anything immersed in that chocolate-hued fluid could emerge purer than it entered.
lagunanounUS /ləˈɡuːnə/
a body of water cut off from a larger body by a reef of sand or coral
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
linennounUS /ˈlɪnən/
a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
LoneadjectiveUS /loʊn/
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading The Lone Hut—The Torture!
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
misnomernounUS /mɪˈsnoʊmər/
an incorrect or unsuitable name
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
Monteagle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Return we now to Monteagle.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Return we now to Monteagle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Skirting the shore of the laguna, the party soon reached a tolerably good road.
performverbUS /pərˈfɔːrm/
carry out or perform an action
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
pig-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
poundingnounUS /ˈpaʊndɪŋ/
repeated heavy blows
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
pureradjectiveUS /ˈpjʊrər/
comparative of “pure” — free of extraneous elements of any kind
From this reading As if anything immersed in that chocolate-hued fluid could emerge purer than it entered.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Skirting the shore of the laguna, the party soon reached a tolerably good road.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Return we now to Monteagle.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Skirting the shore of the laguna, the party soon reached a tolerably good road.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
ruthlessadjectiveUS /ˈruːθləs/
without mercy or pity
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
scrubbingnounUS /ˈskrʌbɪŋ/
the act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush and soap and water
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Skirting the shore of the laguna, the party soon reached a tolerably good road.
shrubless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
SkirtingadjectiveUS /ˈskɜːrtɪŋ/
being all around the edges; enclosing
From this reading Skirting the shore of the laguna, the party soon reached a tolerably good road.
in the near future
From this reading Skirting the shore of the laguna, the party soon reached a tolerably good road.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading As if anything immersed in that chocolate-hued fluid could emerge purer than it entered.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As if anything immersed in that chocolate-hued fluid could emerge purer than it entered.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Lone Hut—The Torture!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Return we now to Monteagle.
tolerablyadverb
in an acceptable (but not outstanding) manner
From this reading Skirting the shore of the laguna, the party soon reached a tolerably good road.
TortureverbUS /ˈtɔːrtʃər/
torment emotionally or mentally
From this reading The Lone Hut—The Torture!
totalverbUS /ˈtoʊtəl/
add up in number or quantity
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
treelessadjectiveUS /ˈtriːləs/
not wooded
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
votaries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
washingnounUS /ˈwɑːʃɪŋ/
the work of cleansing (usually with soap and water)
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Return we now to Monteagle.
in or at the place that
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
which person or people
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The ruthless gang of fellows who had made him prisoner rode on in almost total silence over the vast treeless, shrubless, sand bank which lies between the bluff headlands and the little laguna, where the pig-eyed votaries of Confucius perform the scrubbing, dipping and pounding of linen, dignified with the misnomer of _washing_.
