used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DANGEROUS VISITOR.
AbnounUS /æb/
a bachelor's degree in arts and sciences
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
adjacentadjectiveUS /əˈdʒeɪsənt/
nearest in space or position; immediately adjoining without intervening space
From this reading It was quite as essential for their purposes that the earth removed should not be visible upon the adjacent surface.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was quite as essential for their purposes that the earth removed should not be visible upon the adjacent surface.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The location of the pit, as has been explained, was some yards to the northeast of the tree in which the lookout had been made.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading A few yards southwest of the tree was a slight declivity and damp hollow, for from that point the land sloped, in a reed-grown marsh toward the river.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading A DANGEROUS VISITOR.
declivitynoun
a downward slope or bend
From this reading A few yards southwest of the tree was a slight declivity and damp hollow, for from that point the land sloped, in a reed-grown marsh toward the river.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading It was quite as essential for their purposes that the earth removed should not be visible upon the adjacent surface.
essentialadjectiveUS /eˈsenʃəl/
absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
From this reading It was quite as essential for their purposes that the earth removed should not be visible upon the adjacent surface.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading The location of the pit, as has been explained, was some yards to the northeast of the tree in which the lookout had been made.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few yards southwest of the tree was a slight declivity and damp hollow, for from that point the land sloped, in a reed-grown marsh toward the river.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A few yards southwest of the tree was a slight declivity and damp hollow, for from that point the land sloped, in a reed-grown marsh toward the river.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The location of the pit, as has been explained, was some yards to the northeast of the tree in which the lookout had been made.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The location of the pit, as has been explained, was some yards to the northeast of the tree in which the lookout had been made.
an opening into or through something
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading A few yards southwest of the tree was a slight declivity and damp hollow, for from that point the land sloped, in a reed-grown marsh toward the river.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading A few yards southwest of the tree was a slight declivity and damp hollow, for from that point the land sloped, in a reed-grown marsh toward the river.
locationnounUS /loʊˈkeɪʃən/
a point or extent in space
From this reading The location of the pit, as has been explained, was some yards to the northeast of the tree in which the lookout had been made.
lookoutnounUS /ˈlʊkaʊt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading The location of the pit, as has been explained, was some yards to the northeast of the tree in which the lookout had been made.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
marshnounUS /mɑːrʃ/
low-lying wet land with grassy vegetation; usually is a transition zone between land and water
From this reading A few yards southwest of the tree was a slight declivity and damp hollow, for from that point the land sloped, in a reed-grown marsh toward the river.
absolutely essential
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
northeastnounUS /ˌnɔːrˈθiːst/
the compass point midway between north and east; at 45 degrees
From this reading The location of the pit, as has been explained, was some yards to the northeast of the tree in which the lookout had been made.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
OaknounUS /oʊk/
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
pitnounUS /pɪt/
A large hole in the ground, or an abyss of darkness and peril.
From this reading The location of the pit, as has been explained, was some yards to the northeast of the tree in which the lookout had been made.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading A few yards southwest of the tree was a slight declivity and damp hollow, for from that point the land sloped, in a reed-grown marsh toward the river.
purposesnounUS /ˈpɜːrpəsəz/
plural of “purpose” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading It was quite as essential for their purposes that the earth removed should not be visible upon the adjacent surface.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It was quite as essential for their purposes that the earth removed should not be visible upon the adjacent surface.
reed-grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few yards southwest of the tree was a slight declivity and damp hollow, for from that point the land sloped, in a reed-grown marsh toward the river.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading It was quite as essential for their purposes that the earth removed should not be visible upon the adjacent surface.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading A few yards southwest of the tree was a slight declivity and damp hollow, for from that point the land sloped, in a reed-grown marsh toward the river.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading A few yards southwest of the tree was a slight declivity and damp hollow, for from that point the land sloped, in a reed-grown marsh toward the river.
slopedadjective
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading A few yards southwest of the tree was a slight declivity and damp hollow, for from that point the land sloped, in a reed-grown marsh toward the river.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The location of the pit, as has been explained, was some yards to the northeast of the tree in which the lookout had been made.
southwestnounUS /ˌsaʊˈθwest/
the compass point midway between south and west; at 225 degrees
From this reading A few yards southwest of the tree was a slight declivity and damp hollow, for from that point the land sloped, in a reed-grown marsh toward the river.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading It was quite as essential for their purposes that the earth removed should not be visible upon the adjacent surface.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was quite as essential for their purposes that the earth removed should not be visible upon the adjacent surface.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The location of the pit, as has been explained, was some yards to the northeast of the tree in which the lookout had been made.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading A few yards southwest of the tree was a slight declivity and damp hollow, for from that point the land sloped, in a reed-grown marsh toward the river.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The location of the pit, as has been explained, was some yards to the northeast of the tree in which the lookout had been made.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was quite as essential for their purposes that the earth removed should not be visible upon the adjacent surface.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading It was quite as essential for their purposes that the earth removed should not be visible upon the adjacent surface.
someone who visits
From this reading A DANGEROUS VISITOR.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not alone necessary for the plans of Ab and Oak that there should be made a deep hole in the ground.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The location of the pit, as has been explained, was some yards to the northeast of the tree in which the lookout had been made.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The location of the pit, as has been explained, was some yards to the northeast of the tree in which the lookout had been made.
