used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
anew
From this reading At dawn Bates came down the ladder again, and went out quietly.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The dead man might start upon his journey, and Bates knew that the start must be an early one.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At dawn Bates came down the ladder again, and went out quietly.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At dawn Bates came down the ladder again, and went out quietly.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
BatesverbUS /beɪts/
third-person singular of “bate” — moderate or restrain; lessen the force of
From this reading At dawn Bates came down the ladder again, and went out quietly.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The dead man might start upon his journey, and Bates knew that the start must be an early one.
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
bitsnounUS /bɪts/
plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
make calm or still
From this reading The new day was fair, and calm; none of his fears were fulfilled.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading At dawn Bates came down the ladder again, and went out quietly.
coatingnounUS /ˈkoʊtɪŋ/
a thin layer covering something
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
the first light of day
From this reading At dawn Bates came down the ladder again, and went out quietly.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The new day was fair, and calm; none of his fears were fulfilled.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The dead man might start upon his journey, and Bates knew that the start must be an early one.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading At dawn Bates came down the ladder again, and went out quietly.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The dead man might start upon his journey, and Bates knew that the start must be an early one.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading The new day was fair, and calm; none of his fears were fulfilled.
plural of “fear” — an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading The new day was fair, and calm; none of his fears were fulfilled.
flat-bottomedadjective
having a flat bottom
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
fulfilledadjectiveUS /fʊlˈfɪld/
completed to perfection
From this reading The new day was fair, and calm; none of his fears were fulfilled.
glistenedverbUS /ˈɡlɪsənd/
past form of “glisten” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The new day was fair, and calm; none of his fears were fulfilled.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading The dead man might start upon his journey, and Bates knew that the start must be an early one.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The dead man might start upon his journey, and Bates knew that the start must be an early one.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading At dawn Bates came down the ladder again, and went out quietly.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
long-handledadjective
having a long handle
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The dead man might start upon his journey, and Bates knew that the start must be an early one.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The dead man might start upon his journey, and Bates knew that the start must be an early one.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
mossnounUS /mɔːs/
tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The dead man might start upon his journey, and Bates knew that the start must be an early one.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The new day was fair, and calm; none of his fears were fulfilled.
not one, and not any
From this reading The new day was fair, and calm; none of his fears were fulfilled.
oarsnounUS /ɔːrz/
plural of “oar” — an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The new day was fair, and calm; none of his fears were fulfilled.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The dead man might start upon his journey, and Bates knew that the start must be an early one.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading At dawn Bates came down the ladder again, and went out quietly.
polesnounUS /poʊlz/
plural of “pole” — a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
with low volume
From this reading At dawn Bates came down the ladder again, and went out quietly.
SaulnounUS /sɔːl/
(Old Testament) the first king of the Israelites who defended Israel against many enemies (especially the Philistines)
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The dead man might start upon his journey, and Bates knew that the start must be an early one.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
stormsnounUS /stɔːrmz/
plural of “storm” — a violent weather condition with winds 64-72 knots (11 on the Beaufort scale) and precipitation and thunder and lightning
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The dead man might start upon his journey, and Bates knew that the start must be an early one.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At dawn Bates came down the ladder again, and went out quietly.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The stones of the beach looked black: here and there were bits of bright green moss upon them: both stones and moss had a coating of thin ice that glistened in the morning light.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The dead man might start upon his journey, and Bates knew that the start must be an early one.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The new day was fair, and calm; none of his fears were fulfilled.
water'snounUS /ˈwɔːtərz/
possessive form of “water” — 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 He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading At dawn Bates came down the ladder again, and went out quietly.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The new day was fair, and calm; none of his fears were fulfilled.
in or at the place that
From this reading He and Saul, taking long-handled oars and poles, went down to the water's edge, where a big, flat-bottomed boat was lying drawn up on the shore to avoid the autumn storms.
