used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At last, after fixing a lighted torch between the logs of each raft, the Mulgars began to get aboard.
on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle
From this reading At last, after fixing a lighted torch between the logs of each raft, the Mulgars began to get aboard.
adriftadjectiveUS /əˈdrɪft/
aimlessly drifting
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading At last, after fixing a lighted torch between the logs of each raft, the Mulgars began to get aboard.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the first Ghibba and Thimble embarked, squatting the one in front and the other astern, to keep their craft steady.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Tugging on a long strand of Samarak which they had looped around the smooth branch of a Boobab, they warped themselves free.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
asternadverb
stern foremost or backward
From this reading On the first Ghibba and Thimble embarked, squatting the one in front and the other astern, to keep their craft steady.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last, after fixing a lighted torch between the logs of each raft, the Mulgars began to get aboard.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading At last, after fixing a lighted torch between the logs of each raft, the Mulgars began to get aboard.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading At last, after fixing a lighted torch between the logs of each raft, the Mulgars began to get aboard.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading With big torches smoking in the sunshine, they pushed off.
Boobab
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tugging on a long strand of Samarak which they had looped around the smooth branch of a Boobab, they warped themselves free.
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Tugging on a long strand of Samarak which they had looped around the smooth branch of a Boobab, they warped themselves free.
catamarannounUS /ˌkætəmərˈæn/
a boat with two parallel hulls held together by single deck
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
cataractnounUS /ˈkætərækt/
an eye disease that involves the clouding or opacification of the natural lens of the eye
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading On the first Ghibba and Thimble embarked, squatting the one in front and the other astern, to keep their craft steady.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading At last, after fixing a lighted torch between the logs of each raft, the Mulgars began to get aboard.
embarkedverbUS /emˈbɑːrkt/
past form of “embark” — go on board
From this reading On the first Ghibba and Thimble embarked, squatting the one in front and the other astern, to keep their craft steady.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading On the first Ghibba and Thimble embarked, squatting the one in front and the other astern, to keep their craft steady.
fixingnounUS /ˈfɪksɪŋ/
the act of putting something in working order again
From this reading At last, after fixing a lighted torch between the logs of each raft, the Mulgars began to get aboard.
foamnounUS /foʊm/
a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
forknounUS /fɔːrk/
cutlery used for serving and eating food
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading Tugging on a long strand of Samarak which they had looped around the smooth branch of a Boobab, they warped themselves free.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading On the first Ghibba and Thimble embarked, squatting the one in front and the other astern, to keep their craft steady.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading At last, after fixing a lighted torch between the logs of each raft, the Mulgars began to get aboard.
Ghibba
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the first Ghibba and Thimble embarked, squatting the one in front and the other astern, to keep their craft steady.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Tugging on a long strand of Samarak which they had looped around the smooth branch of a Boobab, they warped themselves free.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On the first Ghibba and Thimble embarked, squatting the one in front and the other astern, to keep their craft steady.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading On the first Ghibba and Thimble embarked, squatting the one in front and the other astern, to keep their craft steady.
immediately past
From this reading At last, after fixing a lighted torch between the logs of each raft, the Mulgars began to get aboard.
set afire or burning
From this reading At last, after fixing a lighted torch between the logs of each raft, the Mulgars began to get aboard.
logsnounUS /lɔːɡz/
plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
From this reading At last, after fixing a lighted torch between the logs of each raft, the Mulgars began to get aboard.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Tugging on a long strand of Samarak which they had looped around the smooth branch of a Boobab, they warped themselves free.
loopedverbUS /luːpt/
past form of “loop” — move in loops
From this reading Tugging on a long strand of Samarak which they had looped around the smooth branch of a Boobab, they warped themselves free.
Mulgars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, after fixing a lighted torch between the logs of each raft, the Mulgars began to get aboard.
nearedverbUS /nɪrd/
past form of “near” — move towards
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At last, after fixing a lighted torch between the logs of each raft, the Mulgars began to get aboard.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading With big torches smoking in the sunshine, they pushed off.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the first Ghibba and Thimble embarked, squatting the one in front and the other astern, to keep their craft steady.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On the first Ghibba and Thimble embarked, squatting the one in front and the other astern, to keep their craft steady.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading On the first Ghibba and Thimble embarked, squatting the one in front and the other astern, to keep their craft steady.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
polesnounUS /poʊlz/
plural of “pole” — a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading With big torches smoking in the sunshine, they pushed off.
raftnounUS /ræft/
a flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be used for transport or as a platform for swimmers
From this reading At last, after fixing a lighted torch between the logs of each raft, the Mulgars began to get aboard.
Samarak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tugging on a long strand of Samarak which they had looped around the smooth branch of a Boobab, they warped themselves free.
shovingverbUS /ˈʃʌvɪŋ/
-ing form of “shove” — come into rough contact with while moving
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
slidverbUS /slɪd/
inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading With big torches smoking in the sunshine, they pushed off.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading Tugging on a long strand of Samarak which they had looped around the smooth branch of a Boobab, they warped themselves free.
in the near future
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
squattingnounUS /ˈskwɑːtɪŋ/
exercising by repeatedly assuming a crouching position with the knees bent; strengthens the leg muscles
From this reading On the first Ghibba and Thimble embarked, squatting the one in front and the other astern, to keep their craft steady.
make steady
From this reading On the first Ghibba and Thimble embarked, squatting the one in front and the other astern, to keep their craft steady.
strandnounUS /strænd/
a pattern forming a unity within a larger structural whole
From this reading Tugging on a long strand of Samarak which they had looped around the smooth branch of a Boobab, they warped themselves free.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
the rays of the sun
From this reading With big torches smoking in the sunshine, they pushed off.
surgeverbUS /sɜːrdʒ/
rise and move, as in waves or billows
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
in a swift manner
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At last, after fixing a lighted torch between the logs of each raft, the Mulgars began to get aboard.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading On the first Ghibba and Thimble embarked, squatting the one in front and the other astern, to keep their craft steady.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Tugging on a long strand of Samarak which they had looped around the smooth branch of a Boobab, they warped themselves free.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With big torches smoking in the sunshine, they pushed off.
ThimblenounUS /ˈθɪmbəl/
as much as a thimble will hold
From this reading On the first Ghibba and Thimble embarked, squatting the one in front and the other astern, to keep their craft steady.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At last, after fixing a lighted torch between the logs of each raft, the Mulgars began to get aboard.
toppledverbUS /ˈtɑːpəld/
past form of “topple” — fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
torchnounUS /tɔːrtʃ/
a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading At last, after fixing a lighted torch between the logs of each raft, the Mulgars began to get aboard.
torchesnounUS /ˈtɔːrtʃɪz/
plural of “torch” — a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading With big torches smoking in the sunshine, they pushed off.
TuggingverbUS /ˈtʌɡɪŋ/
inflected form of “tug” — pull hard
From this reading Tugging on a long strand of Samarak which they had looped around the smooth branch of a Boobab, they warped themselves free.
twigsnounUS /twɪɡz/
plural of “twig” — a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
warpedadjectiveUS /wɔːrpt/
used especially of timbers or boards; bent out of shape usually by moisture
From this reading Tugging on a long strand of Samarak which they had looped around the smooth branch of a Boobab, they warped themselves free.
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 Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Tugging on a long strand of Samarak which they had looped around the smooth branch of a Boobab, they warped themselves free.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With big torches smoking in the sunshine, they pushed off.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Soon well adrift, with water singing in their green twigs, they slid swiftly into the stream, shoving and pulling at their long poles, beating the green water to foam, as they neared the fork, to keep their dancing catamaran from drifting into the surge that would have toppled them over the cataract.
