used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The night advanced, and the steady dip of the paddles soothed me into a slumber, from which I was only roused by the noise of drums and the sound of revelry.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading The night advanced, and the steady dip of the paddles soothed me into a slumber, from which I was only roused by the noise of drums and the sound of revelry.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Fire-flies sparkled like stars along the shore, and only the night-hawk, swooping down after its prey, startled the ear of night with its rushing pinions.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Fire-flies sparkled like stars along the shore, and only the night-hawk, swooping down after its prey, startled the ear of night with its rushing pinions.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The river was now wide and still, and the banks low and tropical.
move towards
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading The river was now wide and still, and the banks low and tropical.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The night advanced, and the steady dip of the paddles soothed me into a slumber, from which I was only roused by the noise of drums and the sound of revelry.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading With the fading light of day, the sea-breeze set in, fresh and pungent, from the ocean.
dipverbUS /dɪp/
immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate
From this reading The night advanced, and the steady dip of the paddles soothed me into a slumber, from which I was only roused by the noise of drums and the sound of revelry.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Fire-flies sparkled like stars along the shore, and only the night-hawk, swooping down after its prey, startled the ear of night with its rushing pinions.
drumsnounUS /drʌmz/
plural of “drum” — a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
From this reading The night advanced, and the steady dip of the paddles soothed me into a slumber, from which I was only roused by the noise of drums and the sound of revelry.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Fire-flies sparkled like stars along the shore, and only the night-hawk, swooping down after its prey, startled the ear of night with its rushing pinions.
fadingnounUS /ˈfeɪdɪŋ/
weakening in force or intensity
From this reading With the fading light of day, the sea-breeze set in, fresh and pungent, from the ocean.
Fire-flies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fire-flies sparkled like stars along the shore, and only the night-hawk, swooping down after its prey, startled the ear of night with its rushing pinions.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading With the fading light of day, the sea-breeze set in, fresh and pungent, from the ocean.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading With the fading light of day, the sea-breeze set in, fresh and pungent, from the ocean.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The night advanced, and the steady dip of the paddles soothed me into a slumber, from which I was only roused by the noise of drums and the sound of revelry.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With the fading light of day, the sea-breeze set in, fresh and pungent, from the ocean.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The night advanced, and the steady dip of the paddles soothed me into a slumber, from which I was only roused by the noise of drums and the sound of revelry.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Fire-flies sparkled like stars along the shore, and only the night-hawk, swooping down after its prey, startled the ear of night with its rushing pinions.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading With the fading light of day, the sea-breeze set in, fresh and pungent, from the ocean.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Fire-flies sparkled like stars along the shore, and only the night-hawk, swooping down after its prey, startled the ear of night with its rushing pinions.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The river was now wide and still, and the banks low and tropical.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The night advanced, and the steady dip of the paddles soothed me into a slumber, from which I was only roused by the noise of drums and the sound of revelry.
mooredverbUS /mʊrd/
past form of “moor” — secure in or as if in a berth or dock
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
night-hawk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fire-flies sparkled like stars along the shore, and only the night-hawk, swooping down after its prey, startled the ear of night with its rushing pinions.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading The night advanced, and the steady dip of the paddles soothed me into a slumber, from which I was only roused by the noise of drums and the sound of revelry.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The river was now wide and still, and the banks low and tropical.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading With the fading light of day, the sea-breeze set in, fresh and pungent, from the ocean.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
and nothing more
From this reading Fire-flies sparkled like stars along the shore, and only the night-hawk, swooping down after its prey, startled the ear of night with its rushing pinions.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
paddlesnounUS /ˈpædəlz/
plural of “paddle” — small wooden bat with a flat surface; used for hitting balls in various games
From this reading The night advanced, and the steady dip of the paddles soothed me into a slumber, from which I was only roused by the noise of drums and the sound of revelry.
pinions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fire-flies sparkled like stars along the shore, and only the night-hawk, swooping down after its prey, startled the ear of night with its rushing pinions.
previouslyadverbUS /ˈpriːviəsli/
at an earlier time or formerly
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading Fire-flies sparkled like stars along the shore, and only the night-hawk, swooping down after its prey, startled the ear of night with its rushing pinions.
pungentadjectiveUS /ˈpʌndʒənt/
strong and sharp
From this reading With the fading light of day, the sea-breeze set in, fresh and pungent, from the ocean.
revelrynounUS /ˈrevəlri/
unrestrained merrymaking
From this reading The night advanced, and the steady dip of the paddles soothed me into a slumber, from which I was only roused by the noise of drums and the sound of revelry.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The river was now wide and still, and the banks low and tropical.
past form of “rouse” — become active
From this reading The night advanced, and the steady dip of the paddles soothed me into a slumber, from which I was only roused by the noise of drums and the sound of revelry.
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line
From this reading Fire-flies sparkled like stars along the shore, and only the night-hawk, swooping down after its prey, startled the ear of night with its rushing pinions.
sea-breeze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the fading light of day, the sea-breeze set in, fresh and pungent, from the ocean.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading With the fading light of day, the sea-breeze set in, fresh and pungent, from the ocean.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Fire-flies sparkled like stars along the shore, and only the night-hawk, swooping down after its prey, startled the ear of night with its rushing pinions.
slumbernounUS /ˈslʌmbər/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading The night advanced, and the steady dip of the paddles soothed me into a slumber, from which I was only roused by the noise of drums and the sound of revelry.
soothedverbUS /suːðd/
past form of “soothe” — give moral or emotional strength to
From this reading The night advanced, and the steady dip of the paddles soothed me into a slumber, from which I was only roused by the noise of drums and the sound of revelry.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The night advanced, and the steady dip of the paddles soothed me into a slumber, from which I was only roused by the noise of drums and the sound of revelry.
sparkledverbUS /ˈspɑːrkəld/
past form of “sparkle” — reflect brightly
From this reading Fire-flies sparkled like stars along the shore, and only the night-hawk, swooping down after its prey, startled the ear of night with its rushing pinions.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Fire-flies sparkled like stars along the shore, and only the night-hawk, swooping down after its prey, startled the ear of night with its rushing pinions.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Fire-flies sparkled like stars along the shore, and only the night-hawk, swooping down after its prey, startled the ear of night with its rushing pinions.
make steady
From this reading The night advanced, and the steady dip of the paddles soothed me into a slumber, from which I was only roused by the noise of drums and the sound of revelry.
not in physical motion
From this reading The river was now wide and still, and the banks low and tropical.
swoopingverbUS /ˈswuːpɪŋ/
-ing form of “swoop” — move down on as if in an attack
From this reading Fire-flies sparkled like stars along the shore, and only the night-hawk, swooping down after its prey, startled the ear of night with its rushing pinions.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
tropicaladjectiveUS /ˈtrɑːpɪkəl/
relating to or situated in or characteristic of the tropics (the region on either side of the equator)
From this reading The river was now wide and still, and the banks low and tropical.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The river was now wide and still, and the banks low and tropical.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The night advanced, and the steady dip of the paddles soothed me into a slumber, from which I was only roused by the noise of drums and the sound of revelry.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The river was now wide and still, and the banks low and tropical.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
but in spite of that
From this reading Although we had previously moored our boat with the approach of darkness, yet this night the Indians kept on their course.
