used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The mud was tenacious, the constant contact with stumps and rocks both irritating and difficult.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
unvarying in nature
From this reading The mud was tenacious, the constant contact with stumps and rocks both irritating and difficult.
contactnounUS /ˈkɑːntækt/
close interaction
From this reading The mud was tenacious, the constant contact with stumps and rocks both irritating and difficult.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
denudationnoun
the removal of covering
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The mud was tenacious, the constant contact with stumps and rocks both irritating and difficult.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
characteristic of or befitting a friend
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
fumblingadjectiveUS /ˈfʌmbəlɪŋ/
showing lack of skill or aptitude
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
hillsidenounUS /ˈhɪlsaɪd/
the side or slope of a hill
From this reading Marta's Sacrifice Progress up the hillside was slow.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Where they were or what route to take neither had any idea.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
irritatingadjectiveUS /ˈɪrəteɪtɪŋ/
causing irritation or annoyance
From this reading The mud was tenacious, the constant contact with stumps and rocks both irritating and difficult.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
immediately past
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
loomingverbUS /ˈluːmɪŋ/
-ing form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
engage in
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
Marta's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marta's Sacrifice Progress up the hillside was slow.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading The mud was tenacious, the constant contact with stumps and rocks both irritating and difficult.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Where they were or what route to take neither had any idea.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Where they were or what route to take neither had any idea.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading Marta's Sacrifice Progress up the hillside was slow.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The mud was tenacious, the constant contact with stumps and rocks both irritating and difficult.
routenounUS /ruːt/
an established line of travel or access
From this reading Where they were or what route to take neither had any idea.
the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.
From this reading Marta's Sacrifice Progress up the hillside was slow.
skylinenounUS /ˈskaɪlaɪn/
the outline of objects seen against the sky
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading Marta's Sacrifice Progress up the hillside was slow.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
stumpsnounUS /stʌmps/
plural of “stump” — the base part of a tree that remains standing after the tree has been felled
From this reading The mud was tenacious, the constant contact with stumps and rocks both irritating and difficult.
carry out
From this reading Where they were or what route to take neither had any idea.
tenaciousadjectiveUS /təˈneɪʃəs/
good at remembering
From this reading The mud was tenacious, the constant contact with stumps and rocks both irritating and difficult.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Marta's Sacrifice Progress up the hillside was slow.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
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 But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Marta's Sacrifice Progress up the hillside was slow.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Marta's Sacrifice Progress up the hillside was slow.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Where they were or what route to take neither had any idea.
in or at the place that
From this reading But at last in their fumbling way, they reached a spot where the denudation gave place to a line of trees, looming dark and friendly overhead against the skyline, and after that they went faster.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The mud was tenacious, the constant contact with stumps and rocks both irritating and difficult.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It had become completely dark; they were without any means of making a light and would not have dared to make one if they could.
