used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FACING STARVATION Paul and Dan surveyed their surroundings.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
bightnounUS /baɪt/
a loop in a rope
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
breakersnounUS /ˈbreɪkərz/
waves breaking on the shore
From this reading And out on the rocky point they could hear the breakers in dismal, rhythmic succession, pounding upon the rocks.
a steep high face of rock
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FACING STARVATION Paul and Dan surveyed their surroundings.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading The sounding breakers made Paul shudder as he realized how narrowly he and Dan had escaped a fate of which he scarcely dared think.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
dismaladjectiveUS /ˈdɪzməl/
causing dejection
From this reading And out on the rocky point they could hear the breakers in dismal, rhythmic succession, pounding upon the rocks.
eastwardadjectiveUS /ˈiːstwərd/
moving toward the east
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
enshroudedverbUS /ɪnˈʃraʊdəd/
past form of “enshroud” — cover as if with a shroud
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
to come or go into
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading The sounding breakers made Paul shudder as he realized how narrowly he and Dan had escaped a fate of which he scarcely dared think.
FACINGnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading FACING STARVATION Paul and Dan surveyed their surroundings.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading The sounding breakers made Paul shudder as he realized how narrowly he and Dan had escaped a fate of which he scarcely dared think.
fognounUS /fɑːɡ/
droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The sounding breakers made Paul shudder as he realized how narrowly he and Dan had escaped a fate of which he scarcely dared think.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading And out on the rocky point they could hear the breakers in dismal, rhythmic succession, pounding upon the rocks.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sounding breakers made Paul shudder as he realized how narrowly he and Dan had escaped a fate of which he scarcely dared think.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
ledgenounUS /ledʒ/
a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The sounding breakers made Paul shudder as he realized how narrowly he and Dan had escaped a fate of which he scarcely dared think.
narrowlyadverbUS /ˈneroʊli/
in a narrow manner; not allowing for exceptions
From this reading The sounding breakers made Paul shudder as he realized how narrowly he and Dan had escaped a fate of which he scarcely dared think.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And out on the rocky point they could hear the breakers in dismal, rhythmic succession, pounding upon the rocks.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading FACING STARVATION Paul and Dan surveyed their surroundings.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
poundingnounUS /ˈpaʊndɪŋ/
repeated heavy blows
From this reading And out on the rocky point they could hear the breakers in dismal, rhythmic succession, pounding upon the rocks.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading The sounding breakers made Paul shudder as he realized how narrowly he and Dan had escaped a fate of which he scarcely dared think.
rhythmicadjectiveUS /ˈrɪðmɪk/
recurring with measured regularity
From this reading And out on the rocky point they could hear the breakers in dismal, rhythmic succession, pounding upon the rocks.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
rockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading And out on the rocky point they could hear the breakers in dismal, rhythmic succession, pounding upon the rocks.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
roundedadjectiveUS /ˈraʊndəd/
curving and somewhat round in shape rather than jagged
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
ruggedadjectiveUS /ˈrʌɡəd/
sturdy and strong in constitution or construction; enduring
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
only a very short time before
From this reading The sounding breakers made Paul shudder as he realized how narrowly he and Dan had escaped a fate of which he scarcely dared think.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
shudderverbUS /ˈʃʌdər/
shake, as from cold
From this reading The sounding breakers made Paul shudder as he realized how narrowly he and Dan had escaped a fate of which he scarcely dared think.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
soundingadjectiveUS /ˈsaʊndɪŋ/
appearing to be as specified; usually used as combining forms
From this reading The sounding breakers made Paul shudder as he realized how narrowly he and Dan had escaped a fate of which he scarcely dared think.
STARVATIONnounUS /stɑːrˈveɪʃən/
a state of extreme hunger resulting from lack of essential nutrients over a prolonged period
From this reading FACING STARVATION Paul and Dan surveyed their surroundings.
storm-scoured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
strandedadjectiveUS /ˈstrændɪd/
cut off or left behind
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
successionnounUS /səkˈseʃən/
a following of one thing after another in time
From this reading And out on the rocky point they could hear the breakers in dismal, rhythmic succession, pounding upon the rocks.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading FACING STARVATION Paul and Dan surveyed their surroundings.
surveyedverbUS /sərˈveɪd/
past form of “survey” — consider in a comprehensive way
From this reading FACING STARVATION Paul and Dan surveyed their surroundings.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading FACING STARVATION Paul and Dan surveyed their surroundings.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading The sounding breakers made Paul shudder as he realized how narrowly he and Dan had escaped a fate of which he scarcely dared think.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Behind them rose a ledge of storm-scoured rocks which reached out into the sea in a rugged cliff to the eastward, and formed the point they had rounded to enter the bight.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
verdureless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
(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 So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading So far as they could discover, in the dense fog, which enshrouded land as well as sea, they were stranded upon a desolate, verdureless coast.
