used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a tendency to relax this pressure somewhat as the rock sank, for Brent knew not how far it might go down in that unseen muck.
in addition
From this reading Obviously, also, the harder he pressed the more the rock would go down.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
the lower side of anything
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
BrentnounUS /brent/
small dark geese that breed in the north and migrate southward
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading There was a tendency to relax this pressure somewhat as the rock sank, for Brent knew not how far it might go down in that unseen muck.
apart from; not including
From this reading Obviously, he could not hold the snake imprisoned except upon a firm foundation.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading There was a tendency to relax this pressure somewhat as the rock sank, for Brent knew not how far it might go down in that unseen muck.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading Obviously, he could not hold the snake imprisoned except upon a firm foundation.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
foundationnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/
the basis on which something is grounded
From this reading Obviously, he could not hold the snake imprisoned except upon a firm foundation.
Gaylong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading There was a tendency to relax this pressure somewhat as the rock sank, for Brent knew not how far it might go down in that unseen muck.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
harderadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdər/
comparative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Obviously, he could not hold the snake imprisoned except upon a firm foundation.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a tendency to relax this pressure somewhat as the rock sank, for Brent knew not how far it might go down in that unseen muck.
imprisonedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈprɪzənd/
being in captivity
From this reading Obviously, he could not hold the snake imprisoned except upon a firm foundation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading There was a tendency to relax this pressure somewhat as the rock sank, for Brent knew not how far it might go down in that unseen muck.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
maintainverbUS /meɪnˈteɪn/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading There was a tendency to relax this pressure somewhat as the rock sank, for Brent knew not how far it might go down in that unseen muck.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Obviously, also, the harder he pressed the more the rock would go down.
muckverbUS /mʌk/
remove muck, clear away muck, as in a mine
From this reading There was a tendency to relax this pressure somewhat as the rock sank, for Brent knew not how far it might go down in that unseen muck.
absolutely essential
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was a tendency to relax this pressure somewhat as the rock sank, for Brent knew not how far it might go down in that unseen muck.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
ObviouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːbviəsli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Obviously, he could not hold the snake imprisoned except upon a firm foundation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
oozyadjective
leaking out slowly
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
pinionedadjective
(of birds) especially having the flight feathers
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
exert pressure or force to or upon
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
compacted by ironing
From this reading Obviously, also, the harder he pressed the more the rock would go down.
pressurenounUS /ˈpreʃər/
the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
relaxverbUS /rɪˈlæks/
become less tense, rest, or take one's ease
From this reading There was a tendency to relax this pressure somewhat as the rock sank, for Brent knew not how far it might go down in that unseen muck.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading There was a tendency to relax this pressure somewhat as the rock sank, for Brent knew not how far it might go down in that unseen muck.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
snakenounUS /sneɪk/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading There was a tendency to relax this pressure somewhat as the rock sank, for Brent knew not how far it might go down in that unseen muck.
not in physical motion
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
tendencynounUS /ˈtendənsi/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading There was a tendency to relax this pressure somewhat as the rock sank, for Brent knew not how far it might go down in that unseen muck.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a tendency to relax this pressure somewhat as the rock sank, for Brent knew not how far it might go down in that unseen muck.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a tendency to relax this pressure somewhat as the rock sank, for Brent knew not how far it might go down in that unseen muck.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There was a tendency to relax this pressure somewhat as the rock sank, for Brent knew not how far it might go down in that unseen muck.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/
not seen or perceived
From this reading There was a tendency to relax this pressure somewhat as the rock sank, for Brent knew not how far it might go down in that unseen muck.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Obviously, he could not hold the snake imprisoned except upon a firm foundation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Brent Gaylong could see nothing, but he felt the flat rock on which his foot had pinioned the snake sinking beneath the pressure.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Obviously, also, the harder he pressed the more the rock would go down.
yieldedverbUS /ˈjiːldɪd/
past form of “yield” — be the cause or source of
From this reading As it yielded and settled in the oozy bottom it was necessary for him to press still harder with his foot, or at least to maintain the pressure.
