used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then, Jerry made a swing of the lariat.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
ascendedverbUS /əˈsendɪd/
past form of “ascend” — travel up
From this reading He then dropped one end of the rope down and Dick ascended nimbly.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading The return to the car was not without difficulties.
a steep high face of rock
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
clingverbUS /klɪŋ/
come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
someone who is a detective
From this reading He then dropped one end of the rope down and Dick ascended nimbly.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading The return to the car was not without difficulties.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He then dropped one end of the rope down and Dick ascended nimbly.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading He then dropped one end of the rope down and Dick ascended nimbly.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading He then dropped one end of the rope down and Dick ascended nimbly.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
having the pinkish flush of health
From this reading Mary, flushed and laughing up at him, sat in it and was slowly lifted to the ledge above.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Mary, flushed and laughing up at him, sat in it and was slowly lifted to the ledge above.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Mary, flushed and laughing up at him, sat in it and was slowly lifted to the ledge above.
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
lariatnounUS /ˈleriət/
a long noosed rope used to catch animals
From this reading Then, Jerry made a swing of the lariat.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading Mary, flushed and laughing up at him, sat in it and was slowly lifted to the ledge above.
ledgenounUS /ledʒ/
a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading Mary, flushed and laughing up at him, sat in it and was slowly lifted to the ledge above.
held up in the air
From this reading Mary, flushed and laughing up at him, sat in it and was slowly lifted to the ledge above.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Then, Jerry made a swing of the lariat.
be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Mary, flushed and laughing up at him, sat in it and was slowly lifted to the ledge above.
merestadjectiveUS /ˈmerəst/
superlative of “mere” — being nothing more than specified
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
nimblyadverbUS /ˈnɪmbli/
in a nimble or agile manner; with quickness and lightness and ease
From this reading He then dropped one end of the rope down and Dick ascended nimbly.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The return to the car was not without difficulties.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He then dropped one end of the rope down and Dick ascended nimbly.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He then dropped one end of the rope down and Dick ascended nimbly.
and nothing more
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The return to the car was not without difficulties.
a strong line
From this reading He then dropped one end of the rope down and Dick ascended nimbly.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Mary, flushed and laughing up at him, sat in it and was slowly lifted to the ledge above.
scraggliest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Mary, flushed and laughing up at him, sat in it and was slowly lifted to the ledge above.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
swingverbUS /swɪŋ/
move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Then, Jerry made a swing of the lariat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The return to the car was not without difficulties.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He then dropped one end of the rope down and Dick ascended nimbly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The return to the car was not without difficulties.
toe-hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Mary, flushed and laughing up at him, sat in it and was slowly lifted to the ledge above.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The return to the car was not without difficulties.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
in or at the place that
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At the spot where the natural steps were not close together, Jerry, finding the merest toe-hold in the cliff and only the scraggliest growth to which he could cling, did, however, manage to reach the step above.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The return to the car was not without difficulties.
