used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CREVASSE ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Hundreds of laborers were at work on the levees, and several small crevasses had been made a few miles above the city.
experiencing a sudden sense of danger
From this reading During the night the water had risen nearly a foot, and the citizens were not a little alarmed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading During the night the water had risen nearly a foot, and the citizens were not a little alarmed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Hundreds of laborers were at work on the levees, and several small crevasses had been made a few miles above the city.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When Mrs. Shepard came on board, she seemed to be more composed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Hundreds of laborers were at work on the levees, and several small crevasses had been made a few miles above the city.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading She declared that, when the whole country was under water, she felt better to be in a boat.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading When Mrs. Shepard came on board, she seemed to be more composed.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading She declared that, when the whole country was under water, she felt better to be in a boat.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When Mrs. Shepard came on board, she seemed to be more composed.
citizensnounUS /ˈsɪtəzənz/
plural of “citizen” — a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community
From this reading During the night the water had risen nearly a foot, and the citizens were not a little alarmed.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Hundreds of laborers were at work on the levees, and several small crevasses had been made a few miles above the city.
serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress
From this reading When Mrs. Shepard came on board, she seemed to be more composed.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading She declared that, when the whole country was under water, she felt better to be in a boat.
CREVASSEnounUS /krəˈvæs/
a deep fissure
From this reading A CREVASSE ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
crevasses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hundreds of laborers were at work on the levees, and several small crevasses had been made a few miles above the city.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading She declared that, when the whole country was under water, she felt better to be in a boat.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the night the water had risen nearly a foot, and the citizens were not a little alarmed.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading She declared that, when the whole country was under water, she felt better to be in a boat.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Hundreds of laborers were at work on the levees, and several small crevasses had been made a few miles above the city.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading During the night the water had risen nearly a foot, and the citizens were not a little alarmed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading During the night the water had risen nearly a foot, and the citizens were not a little alarmed.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading Hundreds of laborers were at work on the levees, and several small crevasses had been made a few miles above the city.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She declared that, when the whole country was under water, she felt better to be in a boat.
laborersnounUS /ˈleɪbərərz/
plural of “laborer” — someone who works with their hands; someone engaged in manual labor
From this reading Hundreds of laborers were at work on the levees, and several small crevasses had been made a few miles above the city.
leveesnounUS /ˈleviz/
plural of “levee” — a formal reception of visitors or guests (as at a royal court)
From this reading Hundreds of laborers were at work on the levees, and several small crevasses had been made a few miles above the city.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading During the night the water had risen nearly a foot, and the citizens were not a little alarmed.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Hundreds of laborers were at work on the levees, and several small crevasses had been made a few miles above the city.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Hundreds of laborers were at work on the levees, and several small crevasses had been made a few miles above the city.
MISSISSIPPInounUS /ˌmɪsɪˈsɪpi/
a major North American river and the chief river of the United States; rises in northern Minnesota and flows southward into the Gulf of Mexico
From this reading A CREVASSE ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading When Mrs. Shepard came on board, she seemed to be more composed.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading When Mrs. Shepard came on board, she seemed to be more composed.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading During the night the water had risen nearly a foot, and the citizens were not a little alarmed.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading During the night the water had risen nearly a foot, and the citizens were not a little alarmed.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading During the night the water had risen nearly a foot, and the citizens were not a little alarmed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Hundreds of laborers were at work on the levees, and several small crevasses had been made a few miles above the city.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A CREVASSE ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
risenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪzən/
(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon
From this reading During the night the water had risen nearly a foot, and the citizens were not a little alarmed.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading When Mrs. Shepard came on board, she seemed to be more composed.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Hundreds of laborers were at work on the levees, and several small crevasses had been made a few miles above the city.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Mrs. Shepard came on board, she seemed to be more composed.
ShepardnounUS /ˈʃepərd/
United States author of surrealistic allegorical plays (born in 1943)
From this reading When Mrs. Shepard came on board, she seemed to be more composed.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Hundreds of laborers were at work on the levees, and several small crevasses had been made a few miles above the city.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She declared that, when the whole country was under water, she felt better to be in a boat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CREVASSE ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Mrs. Shepard came on board, she seemed to be more composed.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She declared that, when the whole country was under water, she felt better to be in a boat.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She declared that, when the whole country was under water, she felt better to be in a boat.
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 She declared that, when the whole country was under water, she felt better to be in a boat.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading During the night the water had risen nearly a foot, and the citizens were not a little alarmed.
at the time that
From this reading When Mrs. Shepard came on board, she seemed to be more composed.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading She declared that, when the whole country was under water, she felt better to be in a boat.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Hundreds of laborers were at work on the levees, and several small crevasses had been made a few miles above the city.
