used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading FORDING A SWOLLEN RIVER The first light of the morning revealed to Tad Butler the narrow escape he had had.
areanounUS /ˈeriə/
a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
From this reading However, that was not surprising, as the cattle now covered a large area; so large that Tad was unable to see to the other side of the herd.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading However, that was not surprising, as the cattle now covered a large area; so large that Tad was unable to see to the other side of the herd.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading On beyond, less than half a mile away, he made out the river in the faint light.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading He had barely passed the outer point of the stampeding herd when the cattle rushed by him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His companion was nowhere to be seen.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading On beyond, less than half a mile away, he made out the river in the faint light.
ButlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading FORDING A SWOLLEN RIVER The first light of the morning revealed to Tad Butler the narrow escape he had had.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had barely passed the outer point of the stampeding herd when the cattle rushed by him.
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading He had barely passed the outer point of the stampeding herd when the cattle rushed by him.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading His companion was nowhere to be seen.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading However, that was not surprising, as the cattle now covered a large area; so large that Tad was unable to see to the other side of the herd.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading FORDING A SWOLLEN RIVER The first light of the morning revealed to Tad Butler the narrow escape he had had.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading On beyond, less than half a mile away, he made out the river in the faint light.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading FORDING A SWOLLEN RIVER The first light of the morning revealed to Tad Butler the narrow escape he had had.
FORDINGnoun
the act of crossing a stream or river by wading or in a car or on a horse
From this reading FORDING A SWOLLEN RIVER The first light of the morning revealed to Tad Butler the narrow escape he had had.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading FORDING A SWOLLEN RIVER The first light of the morning revealed to Tad Butler the narrow escape he had had.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading On beyond, less than half a mile away, he made out the river in the faint light.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading FORDING A SWOLLEN RIVER The first light of the morning revealed to Tad Butler the narrow escape he had had.
herdnounUS /hɜːrd/
a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans
From this reading He had barely passed the outer point of the stampeding herd when the cattle rushed by him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had barely passed the outer point of the stampeding herd when the cattle rushed by him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His companion was nowhere to be seen.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However, that was not surprising, as the cattle now covered a large area; so large that Tad was unable to see to the other side of the herd.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On beyond, less than half a mile away, he made out the river in the faint light.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading However, that was not surprising, as the cattle now covered a large area; so large that Tad was unable to see to the other side of the herd.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading On beyond, less than half a mile away, he made out the river in the faint light.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading FORDING A SWOLLEN RIVER The first light of the morning revealed to Tad Butler the narrow escape he had had.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading On beyond, less than half a mile away, he made out the river in the faint light.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading On beyond, less than half a mile away, he made out the river in the faint light.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading FORDING A SWOLLEN RIVER The first light of the morning revealed to Tad Butler the narrow escape he had had.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading FORDING A SWOLLEN RIVER The first light of the morning revealed to Tad Butler the narrow escape he had had.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading However, that was not surprising, as the cattle now covered a large area; so large that Tad was unable to see to the other side of the herd.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading However, that was not surprising, as the cattle now covered a large area; so large that Tad was unable to see to the other side of the herd.
nowherenounUS /ˈnoʊwer/
an insignificant place
From this reading His companion was nowhere to be seen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading FORDING A SWOLLEN RIVER The first light of the morning revealed to Tad Butler the narrow escape he had had.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On beyond, less than half a mile away, he made out the river in the faint light.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading However, that was not surprising, as the cattle now covered a large area; so large that Tad was unable to see to the other side of the herd.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading On beyond, less than half a mile away, he made out the river in the faint light.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading He had barely passed the outer point of the stampeding herd when the cattle rushed by him.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading He had barely passed the outer point of the stampeding herd when the cattle rushed by him.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading He had barely passed the outer point of the stampeding herd when the cattle rushed by him.
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading FORDING A SWOLLEN RIVER The first light of the morning revealed to Tad Butler the narrow escape he had had.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading FORDING A SWOLLEN RIVER The first light of the morning revealed to Tad Butler the narrow escape he had had.
done under pressure
From this reading He had barely passed the outer point of the stampeding herd when the cattle rushed by him.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading However, that was not surprising, as the cattle now covered a large area; so large that Tad was unable to see to the other side of the herd.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading His companion was nowhere to be seen.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading However, that was not surprising, as the cattle now covered a large area; so large that Tad was unable to see to the other side of the herd.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading However, that was not surprising, as the cattle now covered a large area; so large that Tad was unable to see to the other side of the herd.
stampedingverbUS /stæmˈpiːdɪŋ/
-ing form of “stampede” — cause to run in panic
From this reading He had barely passed the outer point of the stampeding herd when the cattle rushed by him.
surprisingadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzɪŋ/
causing surprise or wonder or amazement
From this reading However, that was not surprising, as the cattle now covered a large area; so large that Tad was unable to see to the other side of the herd.
SWOLLENadjectiveUS /ˈswoʊlən/
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading FORDING A SWOLLEN RIVER The first light of the morning revealed to Tad Butler the narrow escape he had had.
TadnounUS /tæd/
a slight amount or degree of difference
From this reading FORDING A SWOLLEN RIVER The first light of the morning revealed to Tad Butler the narrow escape he had had.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading On beyond, less than half a mile away, he made out the river in the faint light.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading However, that was not surprising, as the cattle now covered a large area; so large that Tad was unable to see to the other side of the herd.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FORDING A SWOLLEN RIVER The first light of the morning revealed to Tad Butler the narrow escape he had had.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading FORDING A SWOLLEN RIVER The first light of the morning revealed to Tad Butler the narrow escape he had had.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading However, that was not surprising, as the cattle now covered a large area; so large that Tad was unable to see to the other side of the herd.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His companion was nowhere to be seen.
at the time that
From this reading He had barely passed the outer point of the stampeding herd when the cattle rushed by him.
