used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Clay exclaimed, as the cellar filled to the depth of a foot or more.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
aperturenounUS /ˈæpərtʃər/
a device that controls amount of light admitted
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
basementnounUS /ˈbeɪsmənt/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “We’ve got to do something right off or we’ll be drowned like rats in a trap!”
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
bulknounUS /bʌlk/
the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
cellarnounUS /ˈselər/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
ClaynounUS /kleɪ/
a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
From this reading Clay exclaimed, as the cellar filled to the depth of a foot or more.
Clay's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
deliverynounUS /dɪˈlɪvəri/
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
depthnounUS /depθ/
the extent downward or backward or inward
From this reading Clay exclaimed, as the cellar filled to the depth of a foot or more.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “We’ve got to do something right off or we’ll be drowned like rats in a trap!”
drownedverbUS /draʊnd/
past form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible
From this reading “We’ve got to do something right off or we’ll be drowned like rats in a trap!”
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
excavationnounUS /ˌekskəˈveɪʃən/
the act of digging
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading Clay exclaimed, as the cellar filled to the depth of a foot or more.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Clay exclaimed, as the cellar filled to the depth of a foot or more.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Clay exclaimed, as the cellar filled to the depth of a foot or more.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading “This is getting serious!”
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “We’ve got to do something right off or we’ll be drowned like rats in a trap!”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “We’ve got to do something right off or we’ll be drowned like rats in a trap!”
incomingadjectiveUS /ˈɪnkʌmɪŋ/
arriving at a place or position
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “This is getting serious!”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “We’ve got to do something right off or we’ll be drowned like rats in a trap!”
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Clay exclaimed, as the cellar filled to the depth of a foot or more.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “We’ve got to do something right off or we’ll be drowned like rats in a trap!”
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Clay exclaimed, as the cellar filled to the depth of a foot or more.
ratsnounUS /ræts/
plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading “We’ve got to do something right off or we’ll be drowned like rats in a trap!”
precisely, exactly
From this reading “We’ve got to do something right off or we’ll be drowned like rats in a trap!”
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
seepedverbUS /siːpt/
past form of “seep” — pass gradually or leak through or as if through small openings
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading “This is getting serious!”
sillsnounUS /sɪlz/
United States operatic soprano (born in 1929)
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
and nothing more
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “We’ve got to do something right off or we’ll be drowned like rats in a trap!”
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “This is getting serious!”
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
trapnounUS /træp/
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading “We’ve got to do something right off or we’ll be drowned like rats in a trap!”
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
undergroundadjectiveUS /ˈʌndərɡraʊnd/
under the level of the ground
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
underminingverbUS /ˈʌndərmaɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “undermine” — destroy property or hinder normal operations
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
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 At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
water'snounUS /ˈwɔːtərz/
possessive form of “water” — 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 At first the incoming water seeped through the bank of the river, under the surface, as Clay’s excavation had cut almost through the narrow bulk of earth between the house and the water’s edge.
we'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We’ve got to do something right off or we’ll be drowned like rats in a trap!”
We've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We’ve got to do something right off or we’ll be drowned like rats in a trap!”
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then, as the underground current carried earth with it, undermining the bank, the cellar began to fill from the surface and the line of light under the sills became simply an aperture for the delivery of water into the basement of the old house.
