used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE HUNTERS The southern shore of the lake was flat and open.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading They were well used to this going, and not being impeded by sled, dogs, or goods there was nothing to keep them back.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading They were well used to this going, and not being impeded by sled, dogs, or goods there was nothing to keep them back.
blanketnounUS /ˈblæŋkət/
bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
bundlenounUS /ˈbʌndəl/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They were well used to this going, and not being impeded by sled, dogs, or goods there was nothing to keep them back.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading They were well used to this going, and not being impeded by sled, dogs, or goods there was nothing to keep them back.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Down from far-distant hills the land sloped to the water, and for miles there were no trees.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
far-distant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down from far-distant hills the land sloped to the water, and for miles there were no trees.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading THE HUNTERS The southern shore of the lake was flat and open.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Down from far-distant hills the land sloped to the water, and for miles there were no trees.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Down from far-distant hills the land sloped to the water, and for miles there were no trees.
the act of giving
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
the act of departing
From this reading They were well used to this going, and not being impeded by sled, dogs, or goods there was nothing to keep them back.
plural of “good” — benefit
From this reading They were well used to this going, and not being impeded by sled, dogs, or goods there was nothing to keep them back.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
heelnounUS /hiːl/
the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Down from far-distant hills the land sloped to the water, and for miles there were no trees.
HUNTERSnounUS /ˈhʌntərz/
plural of “hunter” — someone who hunts game
From this reading THE HUNTERS The southern shore of the lake was flat and open.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
impededadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpiːdɪd/
made difficult or slow
From this reading They were well used to this going, and not being impeded by sled, dogs, or goods there was nothing to keep them back.
and nothing more
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading They were well used to this going, and not being impeded by sled, dogs, or goods there was nothing to keep them back.
kickverbUS /kɪk/
drive or propel with the foot
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading THE HUNTERS The southern shore of the lake was flat and open.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Down from far-distant hills the land sloped to the water, and for miles there were no trees.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
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 They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
the force of workers available
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Down from far-distant hills the land sloped to the water, and for miles there were no trees.
not any; not one
From this reading Down from far-distant hills the land sloped to the water, and for miles there were no trees.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were well used to this going, and not being impeded by sled, dogs, or goods there was nothing to keep them back.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading They were well used to this going, and not being impeded by sled, dogs, or goods there was nothing to keep them back.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HUNTERS The southern shore of the lake was flat and open.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading THE HUNTERS The southern shore of the lake was flat and open.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They were well used to this going, and not being impeded by sled, dogs, or goods there was nothing to keep them back.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
pressingnounUS /ˈpresɪŋ/
the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
shoenounUS /ʃuː/
footwear shaped to fit the foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and heel of heavier material
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading THE HUNTERS The southern shore of the lake was flat and open.
skatenounUS /skeɪt/
sports equipment that is worn on the feet to enable the wearer to glide along and to be propelled by the alternate actions of the legs
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
slednounUS /sled/
a vehicle mounted on runners and pulled by horses or dogs; for transportation over snow
From this reading They were well used to this going, and not being impeded by sled, dogs, or goods there was nothing to keep them back.
the state of being asleep
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
slidverbUS /slɪd/
inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
slopedadjective
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading Down from far-distant hills the land sloped to the water, and for miles there were no trees.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
snowshoesnounUS /ˈsnoʊʃuːz/
plural of “snowshoe” — a device to help you walk on deep snow; a lightweight frame shaped like a racquet is strengthened with cross pieces and contains a network of thongs; one is worn on each foot
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading THE HUNTERS The southern shore of the lake was flat and open.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HUNTERS The southern shore of the lake was flat and open.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They were well used to this going, and not being impeded by sled, dogs, or goods there was nothing to keep them back.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Down from far-distant hills the land sloped to the water, and for miles there were no trees.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They were well used to this going, and not being impeded by sled, dogs, or goods there was nothing to keep them back.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Down from far-distant hills the land sloped to the water, and for miles there were no trees.
torpedo-shaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came at a great pace on their long snowshoes, giving a kick forward with each foot and then pressing down on the heel so that the great torpedo-shaped shoe slid forward over the snow almost as fast as a skate might on ice.
the act of going from one place to another
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Down from far-distant hills the land sloped to the water, and for miles there were no trees.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading They were well used to this going, and not being impeded by sled, dogs, or goods there was nothing to keep them back.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE HUNTERS The southern shore of the lake was flat and open.
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 Down from far-distant hills the land sloped to the water, and for miles there were no trees.
(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 They were well used to this going, and not being impeded by sled, dogs, or goods there was nothing to keep them back.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Down from far-distant hills the land sloped to the water, and for miles there were no trees.
in the company of; together with
From this reading From the hills, then, came two men travelling light, with just a bundle, each made up of a sleeping blanket and food enough for a few days.
