adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
banksnounUS /bæŋks/
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A rifle, a score of them, a thousand, might lurk in that fringe by the stream.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
edgenounUS /edʒ/
the boundary of a surface
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
endnounUS /end/
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
essayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twice he essayed to start, and twice he paused.
fenceverbUS /fens/
enclose with a fence
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
fringenounUS /frɪndʒ/
the outside boundary or surface of something
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
haltedverbUS /ˈhɔːltəd/
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
lurkverbUS /lɜːrk/
lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
From this reading A rifle, a score of them, a thousand, might lurk in that fringe by the stream.
markedadjectiveUS /mɑːrkt/
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
mereadjectiveUS /mɪr/
being nothing more than specified
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A rifle, a score of them, a thousand, might lurk in that fringe by the stream.
milenounUS /maɪl/
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
opennessnounUS /ˈoʊpənnəs/
without obstructions to passage or view
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
pathnounUS /pæθ/
a course of conduct
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
pausedverbUS /pɔːzd/
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Twice he essayed to start, and twice he paused.
progressnounUS /ˈprɑːɡres/
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
quarternounUS /ˈkwɔːrtər/
one of four equal parts
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
repugnantadjectiveUS /rɪˈpʌɡnənt/
offensive to the mind
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
rifleverbUS /ˈraɪfəl/
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading A rifle, a score of them, a thousand, might lurk in that fringe by the stream.
scorenounUS /skɔːr/
a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)
From this reading A rifle, a score of them, a thousand, might lurk in that fringe by the stream.
startverbUS /stɑːrt/
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Twice he essayed to start, and twice he paused.
streamnounUS /striːm/
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A rifle, a score of them, a thousand, might lurk in that fringe by the stream.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
thousandnounUS /ˈθaʊzənd/
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading A rifle, a score of them, a thousand, might lurk in that fringe by the stream.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
treesnounUS /triːz/
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
TwiceadverbUS /twaɪs/
two times
From this reading Twice he essayed to start, and twice he paused.
valleynounUS /ˈvæli/
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
venturingverbUS /ˈventʃərɪŋ/
-ing form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
