used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading “This is the place Sam picked out,” said Stone, looking at it with an air of recognition.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “This is the place Sam picked out,” said Stone, looking at it with an air of recognition.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT._ THE rain ceased as suddenly as it began, and the sun shone down on us as warm as on the day before.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading _WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT._ THE rain ceased as suddenly as it began, and the sun shone down on us as warm as on the day before.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “This is the place Sam picked out,” said Stone, looking at it with an air of recognition.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “There couldn’t be a better place for our purpose.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading _WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT._ THE rain ceased as suddenly as it began, and the sun shone down on us as warm as on the day before.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading _WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT._ THE rain ceased as suddenly as it began, and the sun shone down on us as warm as on the day before.
next to; at the side of
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
(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 “There couldn’t be a better place for our purpose.
borderedadjectiveUS /ˈbɔːrdərd/
having a border especially of a specified kind; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading _WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT._ THE rain ceased as suddenly as it began, and the sun shone down on us as warm as on the day before.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There couldn’t be a better place for our purpose.
crownedadjectiveUS /kraʊnd/
having an (artificial) crown on a tooth
From this reading A wooded peninsula ran out into the water, and beside the stream rose a gentle elevation crowned by thick woods.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading _WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT._ THE rain ceased as suddenly as it began, and the sun shone down on us as warm as on the day before.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading _WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT._ THE rain ceased as suddenly as it began, and the sun shone down on us as warm as on the day before.
elevationnounUS /ˌeləˈveɪʃən/
the event of something being raised upward
From this reading A wooded peninsula ran out into the water, and beside the stream rose a gentle elevation crowned by thick woods.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
flowingnounUS /ˈfloʊɪŋ/
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “There couldn’t be a better place for our purpose.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading A wooded peninsula ran out into the water, and beside the stream rose a gentle elevation crowned by thick woods.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A wooded peninsula ran out into the water, and beside the stream rose a gentle elevation crowned by thick woods.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “This is the place Sam picked out,” said Stone, looking at it with an air of recognition.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT._ THE rain ceased as suddenly as it began, and the sun shone down on us as warm as on the day before.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading “This is the place Sam picked out,” said Stone, looking at it with an air of recognition.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
nightfallnounUS /ˈnaɪtfɔːl/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “This is the place Sam picked out,” said Stone, looking at it with an air of recognition.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT._ THE rain ceased as suddenly as it began, and the sun shone down on us as warm as on the day before.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
ONSLAUGHTnounUS /ˈɔːnslɔːt/
a sudden and severe onset of trouble
From this reading _WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT._ THE rain ceased as suddenly as it began, and the sun shone down on us as warm as on the day before.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “There couldn’t be a better place for our purpose.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A wooded peninsula ran out into the water, and beside the stream rose a gentle elevation crowned by thick woods.
peninsulanounUS /pəˈnɪnsələ/
a large mass of land projecting into a body of water
From this reading A wooded peninsula ran out into the water, and beside the stream rose a gentle elevation crowned by thick woods.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading “This is the place Sam picked out,” said Stone, looking at it with an air of recognition.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading “This is the place Sam picked out,” said Stone, looking at it with an air of recognition.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading “There couldn’t be a better place for our purpose.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading _WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT._ THE rain ceased as suddenly as it began, and the sun shone down on us as warm as on the day before.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading A wooded peninsula ran out into the water, and beside the stream rose a gentle elevation crowned by thick woods.
with speed
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
recognitionnounUS /ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃən/
the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged
From this reading “This is the place Sam picked out,” said Stone, looking at it with an air of recognition.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading A wooded peninsula ran out into the water, and beside the stream rose a gentle elevation crowned by thick woods.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “This is the place Sam picked out,” said Stone, looking at it with an air of recognition.
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading “This is the place Sam picked out,” said Stone, looking at it with an air of recognition.
savannanounUS /səˈvænə/
a flat grassland in tropical or subtropical regions
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading _WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT._ THE rain ceased as suddenly as it began, and the sun shone down on us as warm as on the day before.
shrubsnounUS /ʃrʌbz/
plural of “shrub” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading “This is the place Sam picked out,” said Stone, looking at it with an air of recognition.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading _WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT._ THE rain ceased as suddenly as it began, and the sun shone down on us as warm as on the day before.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading _WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT._ THE rain ceased as suddenly as it began, and the sun shone down on us as warm as on the day before.
swollenadjectiveUS /ˈswoʊlən/
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT._ THE rain ceased as suddenly as it began, and the sun shone down on us as warm as on the day before.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “There couldn’t be a better place for our purpose.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading A wooded peninsula ran out into the water, and beside the stream rose a gentle elevation crowned by thick woods.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “This is the place Sam picked out,” said Stone, looking at it with an air of recognition.
up to a particular time
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading _WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT._ THE rain ceased as suddenly as it began, and the sun shone down on us as warm as on the day before.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading _WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT._ THE rain ceased as suddenly as it began, and the sun shone down on us as warm as on the day before.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading _WAITING THE ONSLAUGHT._ THE rain ceased as suddenly as it began, and the sun shone down on us as warm as on the day before.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
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 A wooded peninsula ran out into the water, and beside the stream rose a gentle elevation crowned by thick woods.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “This is the place Sam picked out,” said Stone, looking at it with an air of recognition.
woodedadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdɪd/
covered with growing trees and bushes etc
From this reading A wooded peninsula ran out into the water, and beside the stream rose a gentle elevation crowned by thick woods.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading A wooded peninsula ran out into the water, and beside the stream rose a gentle elevation crowned by thick woods.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading We worked rapidly till nightfall, and a few hours’ labor in the morning brought us to a stream swollen by the late rain, flowing beside a small open savanna, which was bordered on one hand by trees and shrubs.
