AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We thus had an example of the extraordinary effects of the heavy rain in tearing away the soil of the valley.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
Atbara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading We thus had an example of the extraordinary effects of the heavy rain in tearing away the soil of the valley.
banksnounUS /bæŋks/
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
brokeadjectiveUS /broʊk/
lacking funds
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
campnounUS /kæmp/
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading In a couple of hours all was over.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
delugenounUS /ˈdeljuːdʒ/
an overwhelming number or amount
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
destructionnounUS /dɪˈstrʌkʃən/
the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
effectsnounUS /ɪˈfekts/
property of a personal character that is portable but not used in business
From this reading We thus had an example of the extraordinary effects of the heavy rain in tearing away the soil of the valley.
endureverbUS /enˈdjʊr/
put up with something or somebody unpleasant
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
examplenounUS /ɪɡˈzæmpəl/
an item of information that is typical of a class or group
From this reading We thus had an example of the extraordinary effects of the heavy rain in tearing away the soil of the valley.
extraordinaryadjectiveUS /ˌekstrəˈɔːrdəneri/
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading We thus had an example of the extraordinary effects of the heavy rain in tearing away the soil of the valley.
fellverbUS /fel/
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
fortunatelyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by good fortune
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We thus had an example of the extraordinary effects of the heavy rain in tearing away the soil of the valley.
heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading We thus had an example of the extraordinary effects of the heavy rain in tearing away the soil of the valley.
hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading In a couple of hours all was over.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We thus had an example of the extraordinary effects of the heavy rain in tearing away the soil of the valley.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
loosenedadjectiveUS /ˈluːsənd/
straightened out
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
mudnounUS /mʌd/
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading In a couple of hours all was over.
pitchedadjectiveUS /pɪtʃt/
(of sound) set to a certain pitch or key; usually used as a combining form
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
rainnounUS /reɪn/
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
rapiditynounUS /rəˈpɪdəti/
a rate that is rapid
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
rushverbUS /rʌʃ/
move hurridly
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
sidesnounUS /saɪdz/
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
soilnounUS /sɔɪl/
the state of being covered with unclean things
From this reading We thus had an example of the extraordinary effects of the heavy rain in tearing away the soil of the valley.
STORMverbUS /stɔːrm/
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading THE STORM.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
sweptadjectiveUS /swept/
possessing sweep
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
swollenadjectiveUS /ˈswoʊlən/
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
tearingnounUS /ˈterɪŋ/
shedding tears
From this reading We thus had an example of the extraordinary effects of the heavy rain in tearing away the soil of the valley.
tempestnounUS /ˈtempəst/
a violent commotion or disturbance
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
tentsnounUS /tents/
plural of “tent” — a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STORM.
threatenedadjectiveUS /ˈθretənd/
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
thunderstormnounUS /ˈθʌndərstɔːrm/
a storm resulting from strong rising air currents; heavy rain or hail along with thunder and lightning
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
thusadverbUS /ðʌs/
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading We thus had an example of the extraordinary effects of the heavy rain in tearing away the soil of the valley.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
torrentsnounUS /ˈtɔːrənts/
plural of “torrent” — a heavy rain
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
TriflingnounUS /ˈtraɪflɪŋ/
the deliberate act of delaying and playing instead of working
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
valleynounUS /ˈvæli/
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading We thus had an example of the extraordinary effects of the heavy rain in tearing away the soil of the valley.
VIOLENTadjectiveUS /ˈvaɪələnt/
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In a couple of hours all was over.
waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/
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 Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
watercourses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We thus had an example of the extraordinary effects of the heavy rain in tearing away the soil of the valley.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents; banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A VIOLENT thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp upon the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
