used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Suddenly her plodding pony stood still, with a slight neigh and ears erect.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading The guide was motionless, a dozen paces in advance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Suddenly her plodding pony stood still, with a slight neigh and ears erect.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The path was a yard or over in width, so there was plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that nature.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The path was a yard or over in width, so there was plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that nature.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Something seemed to have caught his notice and caused him to hesitate.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading Something seemed to have caught his notice and caused him to hesitate.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The path was a yard or over in width, so there was plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that nature.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading The guide was motionless, a dozen paces in advance.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading The path was a yard or over in width, so there was plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that nature.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Suddenly her plodding pony stood still, with a slight neigh and ears erect.
erectverbUS /ɪˈrekt/
construct, build, or erect
From this reading Suddenly her plodding pony stood still, with a slight neigh and ears erect.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
footholdnounUS /ˈfʊthoʊld/
an area in hostile territory that has been captured and is held awaiting further troops and supplies
From this reading The path was a yard or over in width, so there was plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that nature.
gorgeverbUS /ɡɔːrdʒ/
overeat or eat immodestly; make a pig of oneself
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
someone employed to conduct others
From this reading The guide was motionless, a dozen paces in advance.
haltverbUS /hɔːlt/
cause to stop
From this reading The path was a yard or over in width, so there was plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that nature.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Something seemed to have caught his notice and caused him to hesitate.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Suddenly her plodding pony stood still, with a slight neigh and ears erect.
hesitateverbUS /ˈhezəteɪt/
pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading Something seemed to have caught his notice and caused him to hesitate.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Something seemed to have caught his notice and caused him to hesitate.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Something seemed to have caught his notice and caused him to hesitate.
ten 10s
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The path was a yard or over in width, so there was plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that nature.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading The path was a yard or over in width, so there was plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that nature.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
a particular point in time
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
not in physical motion
From this reading The guide was motionless, a dozen paces in advance.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The path was a yard or over in width, so there was plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that nature.
neighnounUS /neɪ/
the characteristic sounds made by a horse
From this reading Suddenly her plodding pony stood still, with a slight neigh and ears erect.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The path was a yard or over in width, so there was plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that nature.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading Something seemed to have caught his notice and caused him to hesitate.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The path was a yard or over in width, so there was plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that nature.
pacesnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪz/
plural of “pace” — the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading The guide was motionless, a dozen paces in advance.
a course of conduct
From this reading The path was a yard or over in width, so there was plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that nature.
a full supply
From this reading The path was a yard or over in width, so there was plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that nature.
ploddingnounUS /ˈplɑːdɪŋ/
hard monotonous routine work
From this reading Suddenly her plodding pony stood still, with a slight neigh and ears erect.
ponynounUS /ˈpoʊniː/
a range horse of the western United States
From this reading Suddenly her plodding pony stood still, with a slight neigh and ears erect.
precipicenounUS /ˈpresəpəs/
a very steep cliff
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
precisely, exactly
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Something seemed to have caught his notice and caused him to hesitate.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading Suddenly her plodding pony stood still, with a slight neigh and ears erect.
slopingadjectiveUS /ˈsloʊpɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The path was a yard or over in width, so there was plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that nature.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Something seemed to have caught his notice and caused him to hesitate.
not in physical motion
From this reading Suddenly her plodding pony stood still, with a slight neigh and ears erect.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Suddenly her plodding pony stood still, with a slight neigh and ears erect.
StygianadjectiveUS /ˈstɪdʒiən/
hellish
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly her plodding pony stood still, with a slight neigh and ears erect.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The path was a yard or over in width, so there was plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that nature.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
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 They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The path was a yard or over in width, so there was plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that nature.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
widthnounUS /wɪdθ/
the extent of something from side to side
From this reading The path was a yard or over in width, so there was plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that nature.
windingadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪndɪŋ/
marked by repeated turns and bends
From this reading They were at that moment winding around the face of a precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of Stygian blackness.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Suddenly her plodding pony stood still, with a slight neigh and ears erect.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The path was a yard or over in width, so there was plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that nature.
