used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As she debated, Penny observed a small column of black smoke rising from amid the shrubbery.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading As she debated, Penny observed a small column of black smoke rising from amid the shrubbery.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The whispered warning she and Salt had heard the previous day, remained unexplained.
any person at all
From this reading Curiously she gazed toward the thatched roof cottage, wondering if anyone were there.
from appearances alone
From this reading Someone apparently had built a bonfire on the beach.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As she debated, Penny observed a small column of black smoke rising from amid the shrubbery.
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading Someone apparently had built a bonfire on the beach.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading As she debated, Penny observed a small column of black smoke rising from amid the shrubbery.
bonfirenounUS /ˈbɑːnfaɪər/
a large outdoor fire that is lighted as a signal or in celebration
From this reading Someone apparently had built a bonfire on the beach.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading Someone apparently had built a bonfire on the beach.
columnnounUS /ˈkɑːləm/
a line of units following one after another
From this reading As she debated, Penny observed a small column of black smoke rising from amid the shrubbery.
a small house with a single story
From this reading Curiously she gazed toward the thatched roof cottage, wondering if anyone were there.
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading Curiously she gazed toward the thatched roof cottage, wondering if anyone were there.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The whispered warning she and Salt had heard the previous day, remained unexplained.
debatedverbUS /dəˈbeɪtɪd/
past form of “debate” — argue with one another
From this reading As she debated, Penny observed a small column of black smoke rising from amid the shrubbery.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As she debated, Penny observed a small column of black smoke rising from amid the shrubbery.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Curiously she gazed toward the thatched roof cottage, wondering if anyone were there.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The whispered warning she and Salt had heard the previous day, remained unexplained.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The whispered warning she and Salt had heard the previous day, remained unexplained.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading She longed to investigate, yet hesitated to trespass.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Curiously she gazed toward the thatched roof cottage, wondering if anyone were there.
investigateverbUS /ˌɪnˈvestəɡeɪt/
investigate scientifically
From this reading She longed to investigate, yet hesitated to trespass.
past form of “long” — desire strongly or persistently
From this reading She longed to investigate, yet hesitated to trespass.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading As she debated, Penny observed a small column of black smoke rising from amid the shrubbery.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As she debated, Penny observed a small column of black smoke rising from amid the shrubbery.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Someone apparently had built a bonfire on the beach.
PennynounUS /ˈpeni/
a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound
From this reading As she debated, Penny observed a small column of black smoke rising from amid the shrubbery.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading The whispered warning she and Salt had heard the previous day, remained unexplained.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The whispered warning she and Salt had heard the previous day, remained unexplained.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading As she debated, Penny observed a small column of black smoke rising from amid the shrubbery.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading Curiously she gazed toward the thatched roof cottage, wondering if anyone were there.
a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)
From this reading The whispered warning she and Salt had heard the previous day, remained unexplained.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Curiously she gazed toward the thatched roof cottage, wondering if anyone were there.
shrubberynounUS /ˈʃrʌbəri/
an area where a number of shrubs are planted
From this reading As she debated, Penny observed a small column of black smoke rising from amid the shrubbery.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As she debated, Penny observed a small column of black smoke rising from amid the shrubbery.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading As she debated, Penny observed a small column of black smoke rising from amid the shrubbery.
a person, without saying who
From this reading Someone apparently had built a bonfire on the beach.
thatchedverbUS /θætʃt/
past form of “thatch” — cover with thatch
From this reading Curiously she gazed toward the thatched roof cottage, wondering if anyone were there.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Curiously she gazed toward the thatched roof cottage, wondering if anyone were there.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Curiously she gazed toward the thatched roof cottage, wondering if anyone were there.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She longed to investigate, yet hesitated to trespass.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Curiously she gazed toward the thatched roof cottage, wondering if anyone were there.
trespassverbUS /ˈtrespæs/
enter unlawfully on someone's property
From this reading She longed to investigate, yet hesitated to trespass.
unexplainedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspleɪnd/
not explained
From this reading The whispered warning she and Salt had heard the previous day, remained unexplained.
a message informing of danger
From this reading The whispered warning she and Salt had heard the previous day, remained unexplained.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Curiously she gazed toward the thatched roof cottage, wondering if anyone were there.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading The whispered warning she and Salt had heard the previous day, remained unexplained.
showing curiosity
From this reading Curiously she gazed toward the thatched roof cottage, wondering if anyone were there.
but in spite of that
From this reading She longed to investigate, yet hesitated to trespass.
