used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE MYSTERY OF A PAIR OF BREECHES.
abutmentnoun
point of contact between two objects or parts
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
anew
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
at or in the front
From this reading Lion swam ahead, throwing up his muzzle and barking loud, like a faithful pilot showing the safest way.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
barkingverbUS /ˈbɑːrkɪŋ/
-ing form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone
From this reading Lion swam ahead, throwing up his muzzle and barking loud, like a faithful pilot showing the safest way.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
boiledadjectiveUS /bɔɪld/
cooked in hot water
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
the lower side of anything
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
terminate
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
BREECHESnounUS /ˈbriːtʃɪz/
(used in the plural) trousers ending above the knee
From this reading THE MYSTERY OF A PAIR OF BREECHES.
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
drift-wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
eddiesnounUS /ˈediz/
plural of “eddy” — founder of Christian Science in 1866 (1821-1910)
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
eh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
faintlyadverbUS /ˈfeɪntli/
to a faint degree or weakly perceived
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
steadfast in affection or allegiance
From this reading Lion swam ahead, throwing up his muzzle and barking loud, like a faithful pilot showing the safest way.
floodnounUS /flʌd/
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
fordingnoun
the act of crossing a stream or river by wading or in a car or on a horse
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
glimmeringnounUS /ˈɡlɪmərɪŋ/
a slight suggestion or vague understanding
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
gurgled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Lion swam ahead, throwing up his muzzle and barking loud, like a faithful pilot showing the safest way.
hubsnounUS /hʌbz/
plural of “hub” — the central part of a car wheel (or fan or propeller etc) through which the shaft or axle passes
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
a small worthless amount
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Lion swam ahead, throwing up his muzzle and barking loud, like a faithful pilot showing the safest way.
large gregarious predatory feline of Africa and India having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male
From this reading Lion swam ahead, throwing up his muzzle and barking loud, like a faithful pilot showing the safest way.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading Lion swam ahead, throwing up his muzzle and barking loud, like a faithful pilot showing the safest way.
marenounUS /mer/
female equine animal
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
muzzlenounUS /ˈmʌzəl/
the open circular discharging end of a gun
From this reading Lion swam ahead, throwing up his muzzle and barking loud, like a faithful pilot showing the safest way.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading THE MYSTERY OF A PAIR OF BREECHES.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MYSTERY OF A PAIR OF BREECHES.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading THE MYSTERY OF A PAIR OF BREECHES.
pilotverbUS /ˈpaɪlət/
operate an airplane
From this reading Lion swam ahead, throwing up his muzzle and barking loud, like a faithful pilot showing the safest way.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
plashed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
practicableadjectiveUS /ˈpræktəkəbəl/
usable for a specific purpose
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
destroyed physically or morally
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
safestadjectiveUS /ˈseɪfəst/
superlative of “safe” — free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading Lion swam ahead, throwing up his muzzle and barking loud, like a faithful pilot showing the safest way.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
get rid of
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading Lion swam ahead, throwing up his muzzle and barking loud, like a faithful pilot showing the safest way.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
swamverbUS /swæm/
inflected form of “swim” — travel through water
From this reading Lion swam ahead, throwing up his muzzle and barking loud, like a faithful pilot showing the safest way.
possessing sweep
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MYSTERY OF A PAIR OF BREECHES.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Lion swam ahead, throwing up his muzzle and barking loud, like a faithful pilot showing the safest way.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
turbidadjectiveUS /ˈtɜːrbɪd/
(of liquids) clouded as with sediment
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Lion swam ahead, throwing up his muzzle and barking loud, like a faithful pilot showing the safest way.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
precisely as stated
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
wagonnounUS /ˈwæɡən/
any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
wagon-box
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
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 wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Lion swam ahead, throwing up his muzzle and barking loud, like a faithful pilot showing the safest way.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/
plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
in or at the place that
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then the boys got into the wagon again, and the mare was driven cautiously forward, by the glimmering light which the lantern shed faintly before and around them.
whirlingnounUS /ˈwɜːrlɪŋ/
the act of rotating in a circle or spiral
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Jack went out with the lantern upon the ruined abutment of the bridge, and showed a space beside the drift-wood, in the turbid and whirling current, where fording seemed practicable.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wheels went in over the hubs; the water came into the bottom of the wagon-box; the flood boiled and plashed and gurgled, and swept away in black, whirling eddies; and Jack said, "This wouldn't be a very nice place to break down, eh,--would it?"
