adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
absoluteadjectiveUS /ˈæbsəluːt/
perfect or complete or pure
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
AdmonishedverbUS /ədˈmɑːnɪʃt/
past form of “admonish” — advise or counsel in terms of someone's behavior
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The water eddied with soft gurgles in the wake of the racing canoes; but that musical sound was all they heard.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
blue-blackadjective
of black tinged with blue
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
bulknounUS /bʌlk/
the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Whispered farewells of new but sincere friends lingered in their ears.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
canoesnounUS /kəˈnuːz/
plural of “canoe” — small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
deadlyadjectiveUS /ˈdedli/
causing or capable of causing death
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
earsnounUS /ɪrz/
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Whispered farewells of new but sincere friends lingered in their ears.
eddied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The water eddied with soft gurgles in the wake of the racing canoes; but that musical sound was all they heard.
embarkedverbUS /emˈbɑːrkt/
past form of “embark” — go on board
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
farewellsnounUS /ˌferˈwelz/
plural of “farewell” — an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting
From this reading Whispered farewells of new but sincere friends lingered in their ears.
feelingnounUS /ˈfiːlɪŋ/
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
foreveradverbUS /fərˈevər/
for a limitless time
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
fortnounUS /fɔːrt/
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
friendsnounUS /frendz/
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Whispered farewells of new but sincere friends lingered in their ears.
goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/
destroyed or killed
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
guidesnounUS /ɡaɪdz/
plural of “guide” — someone employed to conduct others
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
gurgles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The water eddied with soft gurgles in the wake of the racing canoes; but that musical sound was all they heard.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The water eddied with soft gurgles in the wake of the racing canoes; but that musical sound was all they heard.
heavennounUS /ˈhevən/
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Whispered farewells of new but sincere friends lingered in their ears.
indeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
journeyverbUS /ˈdʒɜːrni/
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
leavingnounUS /ˈliːvɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
lingeredverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡərd/
past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading Whispered farewells of new but sincere friends lingered in their ears.
listenedverbUS /ˈlɪsənd/
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
loomingverbUS /ˈluːmɪŋ/
-ing form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
missionnounUS /ˈmɪʃən/
an organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
musicaladjectiveUS /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/
characterized by or capable of producing music
From this reading The water eddied with soft gurgles in the wake of the racing canoes; but that musical sound was all they heard.
myriads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Whispered farewells of new but sincere friends lingered in their ears.
NowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
obscureverbUS /əbsˈkjʊr/
make less visible or unclear
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
OnceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
protectornounUS /prəˈtektər/
a person who cares for persons or property
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
racingnounUS /ˈreɪsɪŋ/
the sport of engaging in contests of speed
From this reading The water eddied with soft gurgles in the wake of the racing canoes; but that musical sound was all they heard.
resumedverbUS /rɪˈzuːmd/
past form of “resume” — take up or begin anew
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
sincereadjectiveUS /sɪnˈsɪr/
open and genuine; not deceitful
From this reading Whispered farewells of new but sincere friends lingered in their ears.
softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The water eddied with soft gurgles in the wake of the racing canoes; but that musical sound was all they heard.
soundnounUS /saʊnd/
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The water eddied with soft gurgles in the wake of the racing canoes; but that musical sound was all they heard.
starsnounUS /stɑːrz/
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The water eddied with soft gurgles in the wake of the racing canoes; but that musical sound was all they heard.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Now the great looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness, leaving a feeling as if a protector had gone--perhaps forever.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The water eddied with soft gurgles in the wake of the racing canoes; but that musical sound was all they heard.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
twinklingnounUS /ˈtwɪŋkəlɪŋ/
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
vaultnounUS /vɒlt/
An arched structure of masonry forming a ceiling, or a secure subterranean storage room.
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
voyagersnounUS /ˈvɔɪɪdʒərz/
plural of “voyager” — a traveler to a distant land (especially one who travels by sea)
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
wakeverbUS /weɪk/
be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading The water eddied with soft gurgles in the wake of the racing canoes; but that musical sound was all they heard.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The water eddied with soft gurgles in the wake of the racing canoes; but that musical sound was all they heard.
waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/
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 The water eddied with soft gurgles in the wake of the racing canoes; but that musical sound was all they heard.
westwardadverbUS /ˈwestwərd/
toward the west
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
WhisperedadjectiveUS /ˈwɪspərd/
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading Whispered farewells of new but sincere friends lingered in their ears.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Admonished to absolute silence by the stern guides, who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark and deadly mission, the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and listened.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Once more out under the blue-black vault of heaven, with its myriads of twinkling stars, the voyagers resumed their westward journey.
