used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It was down this rugged place that Tad began to climb, followed closely by Ned Rector.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was down this rugged place that Tad began to climb, followed closely by Ned Rector.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading It was down this rugged place that Tad began to climb, followed closely by Ned Rector.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading It was down this rugged place that Tad began to climb, followed closely by Ned Rector.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading A short distance to the rear the rocks sloped down into the gulch with a gradual fall.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A short distance to the rear the rocks sloped down into the gulch with a gradual fall.
divisible by two
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading A short distance to the rear the rocks sloped down into the gulch with a gradual fall.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading It was down this rugged place that Tad began to climb, followed closely by Ned Rector.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
gapnounUS /ɡæp/
a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
gradualadjectiveUS /ˈɡrædʒuːəl/
proceeding in small stages
From this reading A short distance to the rear the rocks sloped down into the gulch with a gradual fall.
gulchnounUS /ɡʌltʃ/
a narrow gorge with a stream running through it
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was down this rugged place that Tad began to climb, followed closely by Ned Rector.
and nothing more
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
ledgenounUS /ledʒ/
a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
past form of “mention” — make reference to
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
of an obscure nature
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was down this rugged place that Tad began to climb, followed closely by Ned Rector.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
on one occasion
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was down this rugged place that Tad began to climb, followed closely by Ned Rector.
precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/
existing or coming before
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
PROCEEDINGnounUS /prəˈsiːdɪŋ/
(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading A short distance to the rear the rocks sloped down into the gulch with a gradual fall.
RectornounUS /ˈrektər/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading It was down this rugged place that Tad began to climb, followed closely by Ned Rector.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading A short distance to the rear the rocks sloped down into the gulch with a gradual fall.
ruggedadjectiveUS /ˈrʌɡəd/
sturdy and strong in constitution or construction; enduring
From this reading It was down this rugged place that Tad began to climb, followed closely by Ned Rector.
seasonedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːzənd/
aged or processed
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading A short distance to the rear the rocks sloped down into the gulch with a gradual fall.
slopedadjective
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading A short distance to the rear the rocks sloped down into the gulch with a gradual fall.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
TadnounUS /tæd/
a slight amount or degree of difference
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was down this rugged place that Tad began to climb, followed closely by Ned Rector.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was down this rugged place that Tad began to climb, followed closely by Ned Rector.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A short distance to the rear the rocks sloped down into the gulch with a gradual fall.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was down this rugged place that Tad began to climb, followed closely by Ned Rector.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
Whew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Whew!
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS PROCEEDING Tad had already started back along the ledge which opened into the gulch just before they reached the gap mentioned in the preceding chapter.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A short distance to the rear the rocks sloped down into the gulch with a gradual fall.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The boys were too busy with their climb to do much talking on the way down, and had they not been thoroughly seasoned they would have been obliged to stop for breath more than once, even if the way was down hill.
