used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Still he dared not venture into the gloom without the aid of a torch.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After lighting his torch he entered slowly and carefully, marking every step he took in the dust and sand, which covered the ground of the cave.
a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do
From this reading Still he dared not venture into the gloom without the aid of a torch.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Eckhardt waited some minutes and the glimmer reappeared.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading After lighting his torch he entered slowly and carefully, marking every step he took in the dust and sand, which covered the ground of the cave.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading What urged him onward to explore the cause of the strange light he could not have told.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading After lighting his torch he entered slowly and carefully, marking every step he took in the dust and sand, which covered the ground of the cave.
cavernnounUS /ˈkæv.ərn/
A large, vast underground cave, often filled with forgotten ancient treasures.
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What urged him onward to explore the cause of the strange light he could not have told.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading After lighting his torch he entered slowly and carefully, marking every step he took in the dust and sand, which covered the ground of the cave.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading Still he dared not venture into the gloom without the aid of a torch.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
remove the dust from
From this reading After lighting his torch he entered slowly and carefully, marking every step he took in the dust and sand, which covered the ground of the cave.
Eckhardt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eckhardt waited some minutes and the glimmer reappeared.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading After lighting his torch he entered slowly and carefully, marking every step he took in the dust and sand, which covered the ground of the cave.
evil-smelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
exploreverbUS /ɪkˈsplɔːr/
inquire into
From this reading What urged him onward to explore the cause of the strange light he could not have told.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
flintsnounUS /flɪnts/
plural of “flint” — a hard kind of stone; a form of silica more opaque than chalcedony
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
glimmernounUS /ˈɡlɪmər/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading Eckhardt waited some minutes and the glimmer reappeared.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading Still he dared not venture into the gloom without the aid of a torch.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading After lighting his torch he entered slowly and carefully, marking every step he took in the dust and sand, which covered the ground of the cave.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading What urged him onward to explore the cause of the strange light he could not have told.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What urged him onward to explore the cause of the strange light he could not have told.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading What urged him onward to explore the cause of the strange light he could not have told.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After lighting his torch he entered slowly and carefully, marking every step he took in the dust and sand, which covered the ground of the cave.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Still he dared not venture into the gloom without the aid of a torch.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading What urged him onward to explore the cause of the strange light he could not have told.
set afire or burning
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
lightingnounUS /ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
having abundant light or illumination
From this reading After lighting his torch he entered slowly and carefully, marking every step he took in the dust and sand, which covered the ground of the cave.
markingnounUS /ˈmɑːrkɪŋ/
a distinguishing symbol
From this reading After lighting his torch he entered slowly and carefully, marking every step he took in the dust and sand, which covered the ground of the cave.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Eckhardt waited some minutes and the glimmer reappeared.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading What urged him onward to explore the cause of the strange light he could not have told.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading What urged him onward to explore the cause of the strange light he could not have told.
onwardadverbUS /ˈɔːnwərd/
forward in time or order or degree
From this reading What urged him onward to explore the cause of the strange light he could not have told.
purchasedverbUS /ˈpɜːrtʃəst/
past form of “purchase” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
with speed
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
reappearedverbUS /ˌriːəˈpɪrd/
past form of “reappear” — appear again
From this reading Eckhardt waited some minutes and the glimmer reappeared.
determined
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
retracedverbUS /riˈtreɪst/
past form of “retrace” — to go back over again
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading After lighting his torch he entered slowly and carefully, marking every step he took in the dust and sand, which covered the ground of the cave.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
do one's shopping
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading After lighting his torch he entered slowly and carefully, marking every step he took in the dust and sand, which covered the ground of the cave.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Eckhardt waited some minutes and the glimmer reappeared.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading After lighting his torch he entered slowly and carefully, marking every step he took in the dust and sand, which covered the ground of the cave.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
not in physical motion
From this reading Still he dared not venture into the gloom without the aid of a torch.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading What urged him onward to explore the cause of the strange light he could not have told.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Eckhardt waited some minutes and the glimmer reappeared.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What urged him onward to explore the cause of the strange light he could not have told.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading What urged him onward to explore the cause of the strange light he could not have told.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading After lighting his torch he entered slowly and carefully, marking every step he took in the dust and sand, which covered the ground of the cave.
torchnounUS /tɔːrtʃ/
a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading Still he dared not venture into the gloom without the aid of a torch.
in the direction of
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading What urged him onward to explore the cause of the strange light he could not have told.
any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome
From this reading Still he dared not venture into the gloom without the aid of a torch.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Eckhardt waited some minutes and the glimmer reappeared.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Quickly resolved he retraced his steps towards the few scattered houses, near the ancient wall, entered a dimly lighted, evil-smelling shop, purchased torch and flints and returned to the entrance of the cavern.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What urged him onward to explore the cause of the strange light he could not have told.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading After lighting his torch he entered slowly and carefully, marking every step he took in the dust and sand, which covered the ground of the cave.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Still he dared not venture into the gloom without the aid of a torch.
