used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Over beyond the water the filling in of the trestle was almost complete, the material being hauled by a train working from cuttings to the west.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A hive of industry was below her--men and horses, huge tree trunks and masses of rock, network trestle and piled poles.
appearingnounUS /əˈpɪrɪŋ/
formal attendance (in court or at a hearing) of a party in an action
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Two distinct gangs were at work.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Over beyond the water the filling in of the trestle was almost complete, the material being hauled by a train working from cuttings to the west.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading A hive of industry was below her--men and horses, huge tree trunks and masses of rock, network trestle and piled poles.
next to; at the side of
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Over beyond the water the filling in of the trestle was almost complete, the material being hauled by a train working from cuttings to the west.
the lower side of anything
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Over beyond the water the filling in of the trestle was almost complete, the material being hauled by a train working from cuttings to the west.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading Over beyond the water the filling in of the trestle was almost complete, the material being hauled by a train working from cuttings to the west.
CONSTRUCTIONnounUS /kənˈstrʌkʃən/
the act of constructing something
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
copeverbUS /koʊp/
succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
cuttingsnounUS /ˈkʌtɪŋz/
plural of “cutting” — the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading Over beyond the water the filling in of the trestle was almost complete, the material being hauled by a train working from cuttings to the west.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
distinctadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality
From this reading Two distinct gangs were at work.
dizzyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪzi/
having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
dotsnounUS /dɑːts/
plural of “dot” — a very small circular shape
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
let fall to the ground
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
to or in any or all places
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
fillingnounUS /ˈfɪlɪŋ/
any material that fills a space or container
From this reading Over beyond the water the filling in of the trestle was almost complete, the material being hauled by a train working from cuttings to the west.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
gangsnounUS /ɡæŋz/
plural of “gang” — an association of criminals
From this reading Two distinct gangs were at work.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
hauledverbUS /hɔːld/
past form of “haul” — draw slowly or heavily
From this reading Over beyond the water the filling in of the trestle was almost complete, the material being hauled by a train working from cuttings to the west.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A hive of industry was below her--men and horses, huge tree trunks and masses of rock, network trestle and piled poles.
hivenounUS /haɪv/
a teeming multitude
From this reading A hive of industry was below her--men and horses, huge tree trunks and masses of rock, network trestle and piled poles.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading A hive of industry was below her--men and horses, huge tree trunks and masses of rock, network trestle and piled poles.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading A hive of industry was below her--men and horses, huge tree trunks and masses of rock, network trestle and piled poles.
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Over beyond the water the filling in of the trestle was almost complete, the material being hauled by a train working from cuttings to the west.
industrynounUS /ˈɪndəstri/
the people or companies engaged in a particular kind of commercial enterprise
From this reading A hive of industry was below her--men and horses, huge tree trunks and masses of rock, network trestle and piled poles.
irritableadjectiveUS /ˈɪrətəbəl/
easily irritated or annoyed
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading A hive of industry was below her--men and horses, huge tree trunks and masses of rock, network trestle and piled poles.
concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests
From this reading Over beyond the water the filling in of the trestle was almost complete, the material being hauled by a train working from cuttings to the west.
the force of workers available
From this reading A hive of industry was below her--men and horses, huge tree trunks and masses of rock, network trestle and piled poles.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
networknounUS /ˈnetwɜːrk/
an interconnected system of things or people
From this reading A hive of industry was below her--men and horses, huge tree trunks and masses of rock, network trestle and piled poles.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
perilouslyadverbUS /ˈperələsli/
in a dangerous manner
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading A hive of industry was below her--men and horses, huge tree trunks and masses of rock, network trestle and piled poles.
polesnounUS /poʊlz/
plural of “pole” — a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading A hive of industry was below her--men and horses, huge tree trunks and masses of rock, network trestle and piled poles.
quicksandsnounUS /ˈkwɪksændz/
plural of “quicksand” — a treacherous situation that tends to entrap and destroy
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
ridiculouslyadverbUS /rəˈdɪkjələsli/
so as to arouse or deserve laughter
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading A hive of industry was below her--men and horses, huge tree trunks and masses of rock, network trestle and piled poles.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
swarmedverbUS /swɔːrmd/
past form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
TRAGEDYnounUS /ˈtrædʒədi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
create by training and teaching
From this reading Over beyond the water the filling in of the trestle was almost complete, the material being hauled by a train working from cuttings to the west.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading A hive of industry was below her--men and horses, huge tree trunks and masses of rock, network trestle and piled poles.
Tressa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
trestlenounUS /ˈtresəl/
a supporting tower used to support a bridge
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
trunksnounUS /trʌŋks/
(used in the plural) trousers that end at or above the knee
From this reading A hive of industry was below her--men and horses, huge tree trunks and masses of rock, network trestle and piled poles.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two distinct gangs were at work.
unceasingadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːsɪŋ/
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
unfitadjectiveUS /ənˈfɪt/
below the required standards for a purpose
From this reading Men swarmed everywhere, appearing from her height mere dots of movement, ridiculously unfit to cope with the force that was making her father so irritable these days.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A hive of industry was below her--men and horses, huge tree trunks and masses of rock, network trestle and piled poles.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
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 Over beyond the water the filling in of the trestle was almost complete, the material being hauled by a train working from cuttings to the west.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Two distinct gangs were at work.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading Over beyond the water the filling in of the trestle was almost complete, the material being hauled by a train working from cuttings to the west.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF CONSTRUCTION Stretched on the dry grass beside the trestle, hanging perilously over the edge of the dizzy drop to the river bottom, Tressa watched the unceasing struggle with the hungry quicksands.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Two distinct gangs were at work.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading Over beyond the water the filling in of the trestle was almost complete, the material being hauled by a train working from cuttings to the west.
