used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
barriersnounUS /ˈbæriərz/
plural of “barrier” — a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
bladesnounUS /bleɪdz/
plural of “blade” — especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole
From this reading The clouds were ripped with the blue-white blades of lightning.
blue-whiteadjective
of white tinged with blue
From this reading The clouds were ripped with the blue-white blades of lightning.
(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
bowlders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
burden-bearer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
cannonading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rock walls of the ranges seemed quaking under the thunder's incessant cannonading, and the wind's shrieking mania.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading The clouds were ripped with the blue-white blades of lightning.
colossaladjectiveUS /kəˈlɑːsəl/
so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
crawledverbUS /krɔːld/
past form of “crawl” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
dew-drenched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
echoverbUS /ˈekoʊ/
to say again or imitate
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
entanglementsnounUS /enˈtæŋɡəlmənts/
plural of “entanglement” — an intricate trap that entangles or ensnares its victim
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
gnarledadjectiveUS /nɑːrld/
used of old persons or old trees; covered with knobs or knots
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
heapedverbUS /hiːpt/
past form of “heap” — bestow in large quantities
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
hollynounUS /ˈhɑːli/
any tree or shrub of the genus Ilex having red berries and shiny evergreen leaves with prickly edges
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
incessantadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsesənt/
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
From this reading The rock walls of the ranges seemed quaking under the thunder's incessant cannonading, and the wind's shrieking mania.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
lashedverbUS /læʃt/
past form of “lash” — beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading The clouds were ripped with the blue-white blades of lightning.
loadnounUS /loʊd/
weight to be borne or conveyed
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
manianounUS /ˈmeɪniə/
an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action
From this reading The rock walls of the ranges seemed quaking under the thunder's incessant cannonading, and the wind's shrieking mania.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
misstepnounUS /mɪsˈstep/
an unintentional but embarrassing blunder
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
mountaineernounUS /ˈmaʊntɪnɪr/
someone who climbs mountains
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
mutterverbUS /ˈmʌtər/
talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
a course of conduct
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
ploddedverbUS /ˈplɑːdɪd/
inflected form of “plod” — walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
quakingverbUS /ˈkweɪkɪŋ/
-ing form of “quake” — shake with fast, tremulous movements
From this reading The rock walls of the ranges seemed quaking under the thunder's incessant cannonading, and the wind's shrieking mania.
rangesnounUS /ˈreɪndʒəz/
plural of “range” — an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading The rock walls of the ranges seemed quaking under the thunder's incessant cannonading, and the wind's shrieking mania.
rhododendronnounUS /ˌroʊdəˈdendrən/
any shrub of the genus Rhododendron: evergreen shrubs or small shrubby trees having leathery leaves and showy clusters of campanulate (bell-shaped) flowers
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
rippedadjectiveUS /rɪpt/
stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading The clouds were ripped with the blue-white blades of lightning.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The rock walls of the ranges seemed quaking under the thunder's incessant cannonading, and the wind's shrieking mania.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The rock walls of the ranges seemed quaking under the thunder's incessant cannonading, and the wind's shrieking mania.
shriekingnounUS /ˈʃriːkɪŋ/
sharp piercing cry
From this reading The rock walls of the ranges seemed quaking under the thunder's incessant cannonading, and the wind's shrieking mania.
slavishlyadverbUS /ˈslævɪʃli/
in a slavish manner
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
in the near future
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
stingverbUS /stɪŋ/
cause a sharp or stinging pain or discomfort
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
thicknesses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
thorn-leaved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
thunder's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rock walls of the ranges seemed quaking under the thunder's incessant cannonading, and the wind's shrieking mania.
timbernounUS /ˈtɪmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
plural of “wall” — 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 The rock walls of the ranges seemed quaking under the thunder's incessant cannonading, and the wind's shrieking mania.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The clouds were ripped with the blue-white blades of lightning.
in or at the place that
From this reading The path twisted among heaped up bowlders where a misstep might mean broken bones and crawled through entanglements of fallen timber: of gnarled rhododendron and thorn-leaved holly.
whipsnounUS /wɪps/
plural of “whip” — an instrument with a handle and a flexible lash that is used for whipping
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
wind'snounUS /wɪndz/
possessive form of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The rock walls of the ranges seemed quaking under the thunder's incessant cannonading, and the wind's shrieking mania.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
wormed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It wormed into dew-drenched thicknesses where branches lashed the burden-bearer's face with the sting of whips, and soon the colossal barriers began to echo with the storm roar of high places.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading With a mutter of distant thunder in his ears, the young mountaineer plodded "slavishly" on under his load as night closed about him.
