used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After a few moments the clank of the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy sluice-gate on the dam.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a few moments the clank of the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy sluice-gate on the dam.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After a few moments the clank of the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy sluice-gate on the dam.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading After a few moments the clank of the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy sluice-gate on the dam.
barriernounUS /ˈbæriər/
a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading A roar of water, momently increasing, marked the slow rise of the barrier.
barsnounUS /bɑːrz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of two parallel wooden rods supported on uprights
From this reading After a few moments the clank of the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy sluice-gate on the dam.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading A very imaginative man might then have made out a tendency forward on the part of those timbers floating nearest the centre of the pond.
clankverbUS /klæŋk/
make a clank
From this reading After a few moments the clank of the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy sluice-gate on the dam.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading The surface of the pond was covered with the scattered timbers floating idly.
criticallyadverbUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəli/
in a critical manner
From this reading It was a very sluggish tendency, however, and the men watching critically shook their heads.
damnounUS /dæm/
a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea
From this reading After a few moments the clank of the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy sluice-gate on the dam.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading After a few moments the clank of the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy sluice-gate on the dam.
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading The surface of the pond was covered with the scattered timbers floating idly.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading A very imaginative man might then have made out a tendency forward on the part of those timbers floating nearest the centre of the pond.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A very imaginative man might then have made out a tendency forward on the part of those timbers floating nearest the centre of the pond.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading It was a very sluggish tendency, however, and the men watching critically shook their heads.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading After a few moments the clank of the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy sluice-gate on the dam.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading After a few moments the clank of the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy sluice-gate on the dam.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It was a very sluggish tendency, however, and the men watching critically shook their heads.
idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/
in an idle manner
From this reading The surface of the pond was covered with the scattered timbers floating idly.
imaginativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒənətɪv/
(used of persons or artifacts) marked by independence and creativity in thought or action
From this reading A very imaginative man might then have made out a tendency forward on the part of those timbers floating nearest the centre of the pond.
increasingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/
becoming greater or larger
From this reading A roar of water, momently increasing, marked the slow rise of the barrier.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a very sluggish tendency, however, and the men watching critically shook their heads.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A very imaginative man might then have made out a tendency forward on the part of those timbers floating nearest the centre of the pond.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A very imaginative man might then have made out a tendency forward on the part of those timbers floating nearest the centre of the pond.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading A roar of water, momently increasing, marked the slow rise of the barrier.
the force of workers available
From this reading After a few moments the clank of the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy sluice-gate on the dam.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A very imaginative man might then have made out a tendency forward on the part of those timbers floating nearest the centre of the pond.
momentlyadverb
for an instant or moment
From this reading A roar of water, momently increasing, marked the slow rise of the barrier.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading After a few moments the clank of the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy sluice-gate on the dam.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading A very imaginative man might then have made out a tendency forward on the part of those timbers floating nearest the centre of the pond.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The surface of the pond was covered with the scattered timbers floating idly.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading After a few moments the clank of the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy sluice-gate on the dam.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A very imaginative man might then have made out a tendency forward on the part of those timbers floating nearest the centre of the pond.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading A very imaginative man might then have made out a tendency forward on the part of those timbers floating nearest the centre of the pond.
pondnounUS /pɑːnd/
a small lake
From this reading The surface of the pond was covered with the scattered timbers floating idly.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading After a few moments the clank of the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy sluice-gate on the dam.
ratchetnounUS /ˈrætʃət/
mechanical device consisting of a toothed wheel or rack engaged with a pawl that permits it to move in only one direction
From this reading After a few moments the clank of the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy sluice-gate on the dam.
move upward
From this reading A roar of water, momently increasing, marked the slow rise of the barrier.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading A roar of water, momently increasing, marked the slow rise of the barrier.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading The surface of the pond was covered with the scattered timbers floating idly.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading It was a very sluggish tendency, however, and the men watching critically shook their heads.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading A roar of water, momently increasing, marked the slow rise of the barrier.
sluggishadjectiveUS /ˈslʌɡɪʃ/
moving slowly
From this reading It was a very sluggish tendency, however, and the men watching critically shook their heads.
sluice-gate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a few moments the clank of the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy sluice-gate on the dam.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading The surface of the pond was covered with the scattered timbers floating idly.
tendencynounUS /ˈtendənsi/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading A very imaginative man might then have made out a tendency forward on the part of those timbers floating nearest the centre of the pond.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The surface of the pond was covered with the scattered timbers floating idly.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was a very sluggish tendency, however, and the men watching critically shook their heads.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading A very imaginative man might then have made out a tendency forward on the part of those timbers floating nearest the centre of the pond.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading A very imaginative man might then have made out a tendency forward on the part of those timbers floating nearest the centre of the pond.
timbersnounUS /ˈtɪmbərz/
plural of “timber” — the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading The surface of the pond was covered with the scattered timbers floating idly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading After a few moments the clank of the bars and ratchet was heard as two of the men raised the heavy sluice-gate on the dam.
precisely as stated
From this reading A very imaginative man might then have made out a tendency forward on the part of those timbers floating nearest the centre of the pond.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The surface of the pond was covered with the scattered timbers floating idly.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading It was a very sluggish tendency, however, and the men watching critically shook their heads.
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 A roar of water, momently increasing, marked the slow rise of the barrier.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The surface of the pond was covered with the scattered timbers floating idly.
