used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The pseudo-Julius supported his charge in the stern of the boat; Peter Brutus sat in the bow, a revolver in his hand, his gaze bent upon the opaqueness ahead.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading With their hands they kept the craft from scraping against the walls.
at or in the front
From this reading The pseudo-Julius supported his charge in the stern of the boat; Peter Brutus sat in the bow, a revolver in his hand, his gaze bent upon the opaqueness ahead.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The boat drifted slowly through the narrow channel, unlighted and practically unguided.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Two of the men sat at the rowlocks, but the oars rested idly in the boat.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading The pseudo-Julius supported his charge in the stern of the boat; Peter Brutus sat in the bow, a revolver in his hand, his gaze bent upon the opaqueness ahead.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The boat drifted slowly through the narrow channel, unlighted and practically unguided.
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading The pseudo-Julius supported his charge in the stern of the boat; Peter Brutus sat in the bow, a revolver in his hand, his gaze bent upon the opaqueness ahead.
BrutusnounUS /ˈbruːtəs/
statesman of ancient Rome who (with Cassius) led a conspiracy to assassinate Julius Caesar (85-42 BC)
From this reading The pseudo-Julius supported his charge in the stern of the boat; Peter Brutus sat in the bow, a revolver in his hand, his gaze bent upon the opaqueness ahead.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Two of the men sat at the rowlocks, but the oars rested idly in the boat.
cautiousadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːʃəs/
showing careful forethought
From this reading ON THE RIVER No word was spoken during this cautious, extraordinary voyage underground.
channelnounUS /ˈtʃænəl/
a path over which electrical signals can pass
From this reading The boat drifted slowly through the narrow channel, unlighted and practically unguided.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading The pseudo-Julius supported his charge in the stern of the boat; Peter Brutus sat in the bow, a revolver in his hand, his gaze bent upon the opaqueness ahead.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading With their hands they kept the craft from scraping against the walls.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading The boat drifted slowly through the narrow channel, unlighted and practically unguided.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading ON THE RIVER No word was spoken during this cautious, extraordinary voyage underground.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading ON THE RIVER No word was spoken during this cautious, extraordinary voyage underground.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading With their hands they kept the craft from scraping against the walls.
a long fixed look
From this reading The pseudo-Julius supported his charge in the stern of the boat; Peter Brutus sat in the bow, a revolver in his hand, his gaze bent upon the opaqueness ahead.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The pseudo-Julius supported his charge in the stern of the boat; Peter Brutus sat in the bow, a revolver in his hand, his gaze bent upon the opaqueness ahead.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading With their hands they kept the craft from scraping against the walls.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The pseudo-Julius supported his charge in the stern of the boat; Peter Brutus sat in the bow, a revolver in his hand, his gaze bent upon the opaqueness ahead.
idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/
in an idle manner
From this reading Two of the men sat at the rowlocks, but the oars rested idly in the boat.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Two of the men sat at the rowlocks, but the oars rested idly in the boat.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading With their hands they kept the craft from scraping against the walls.
the force of workers available
From this reading Two of the men sat at the rowlocks, but the oars rested idly in the boat.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The boat drifted slowly through the narrow channel, unlighted and practically unguided.
not any; not one
From this reading ON THE RIVER No word was spoken during this cautious, extraordinary voyage underground.
oarsnounUS /ɔːrz/
plural of “oar” — an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading Two of the men sat at the rowlocks, but the oars rested idly in the boat.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Two of the men sat at the rowlocks, but the oars rested idly in the boat.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE RIVER No word was spoken during this cautious, extraordinary voyage underground.
opaquenessnoun
incomprehensibility resulting from obscurity of meaning
From this reading The pseudo-Julius supported his charge in the stern of the boat; Peter Brutus sat in the bow, a revolver in his hand, his gaze bent upon the opaqueness ahead.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading The pseudo-Julius supported his charge in the stern of the boat; Peter Brutus sat in the bow, a revolver in his hand, his gaze bent upon the opaqueness ahead.
practicallyadverbUS /ˈpræktɪkli/
almost; nearly
From this reading The boat drifted slowly through the narrow channel, unlighted and practically unguided.
pseudo-Julius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pseudo-Julius supported his charge in the stern of the boat; Peter Brutus sat in the bow, a revolver in his hand, his gaze bent upon the opaqueness ahead.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading Two of the men sat at the rowlocks, but the oars rested idly in the boat.
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading The pseudo-Julius supported his charge in the stern of the boat; Peter Brutus sat in the bow, a revolver in his hand, his gaze bent upon the opaqueness ahead.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading ON THE RIVER No word was spoken during this cautious, extraordinary voyage underground.
rowlocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two of the men sat at the rowlocks, but the oars rested idly in the boat.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Two of the men sat at the rowlocks, but the oars rested idly in the boat.
scrapingnounUS /ˈskreɪpɪŋ/
(usually plural) a fragment scraped off of something and collected
From this reading With their hands they kept the craft from scraping against the walls.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The boat drifted slowly through the narrow channel, unlighted and practically unguided.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading ON THE RIVER No word was spoken during this cautious, extraordinary voyage underground.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading The pseudo-Julius supported his charge in the stern of the boat; Peter Brutus sat in the bow, a revolver in his hand, his gaze bent upon the opaqueness ahead.
supportedadjectiveUS /səˈpɔːrtɪd/
sustained or maintained by aid (as distinct from physical support)
From this reading The pseudo-Julius supported his charge in the stern of the boat; Peter Brutus sat in the bow, a revolver in his hand, his gaze bent upon the opaqueness ahead.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE RIVER No word was spoken during this cautious, extraordinary voyage underground.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading With their hands they kept the craft from scraping against the walls.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With their hands they kept the craft from scraping against the walls.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading ON THE RIVER No word was spoken during this cautious, extraordinary voyage underground.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The boat drifted slowly through the narrow channel, unlighted and practically unguided.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two of the men sat at the rowlocks, but the oars rested idly in the boat.
undergroundadjectiveUS /ˈʌndərɡraʊnd/
under the level of the ground
From this reading ON THE RIVER No word was spoken during this cautious, extraordinary voyage underground.
unguidedadjective
not subject to guidance or control after launching
From this reading The boat drifted slowly through the narrow channel, unlighted and practically unguided.
unlightedadjective
not set afire or burning
From this reading The boat drifted slowly through the narrow channel, unlighted and practically unguided.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The pseudo-Julius supported his charge in the stern of the boat; Peter Brutus sat in the bow, a revolver in his hand, his gaze bent upon the opaqueness ahead.
an act of traveling by water
From this reading ON THE RIVER No word was spoken during this cautious, extraordinary voyage underground.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading With their hands they kept the craft from scraping against the walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ON THE RIVER No word was spoken during this cautious, extraordinary voyage underground.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With their hands they kept the craft from scraping against the walls.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading ON THE RIVER No word was spoken during this cautious, extraordinary voyage underground.
