used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Nobody came near the place but a few friendly and half-starved Indians, who were given the food and shelter they begged.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading WASHINGTON AT WILL’S CREEK The remainder of the winter passed slowly to those at the trading-post.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
inflected form of “beg” — call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading Nobody came near the place but a few friendly and half-starved Indians, who were given the food and shelter they begged.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Nobody came near the place but a few friendly and half-starved Indians, who were given the food and shelter they begged.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Nobody came near the place but a few friendly and half-starved Indians, who were given the food and shelter they begged.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading WASHINGTON AT WILL’S CREEK The remainder of the winter passed slowly to those at the trading-post.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
diggingnounUS /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/
the act of digging
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
exceptingverbUS /ˌekˈseptɪŋ/
-ing form of “except” — take exception to
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Nobody came near the place but a few friendly and half-starved Indians, who were given the food and shelter they begged.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading Nobody came near the place but a few friendly and half-starved Indians, who were given the food and shelter they begged.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
characteristic of or befitting a friend
From this reading Nobody came near the place but a few friendly and half-starved Indians, who were given the food and shelter they begged.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Nobody came near the place but a few friendly and half-starved Indians, who were given the food and shelter they begged.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
half-starved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came near the place but a few friendly and half-starved Indians, who were given the food and shelter they begged.
come to pass
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
hatchetsnounUS /ˈhætʃəts/
plural of “hatchet” — weapon consisting of a fighting ax; used by North American Indians
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading Nobody came near the place but a few friendly and half-starved Indians, who were given the food and shelter they begged.
instigationnounUS /ˌɪnstɪˈɡeɪʃən/
the verbal act of urging on
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading “And they will happen,” said James Morris.
lakesnounUS /leɪks/
plural of “lake” — a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
leaflessadjectiveUS /ˈliːfləs/
having no leaves
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
the force of workers available
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
MorrisnounUS /ˈmɔːrəs/
United States suffragist in Wyoming (1814-1902)
From this reading “And they will happen,” said James Morris.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Nobody came near the place but a few friendly and half-starved Indians, who were given the food and shelter they begged.
information about recent and important events
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
not any; not one
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
no person; not anyone
From this reading Nobody came near the place but a few friendly and half-starved Indians, who were given the food and shelter they begged.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WASHINGTON AT WILL’S CREEK The remainder of the winter passed slowly to those at the trading-post.
many times at short intervals
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading WASHINGTON AT WILL’S CREEK The remainder of the winter passed slowly to those at the trading-post.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Nobody came near the place but a few friendly and half-starved Indians, who were given the food and shelter they begged.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
remaindernounUS /rɪˈmeɪndər/
something left after other parts have been taken away
From this reading WASHINGTON AT WILL’S CREEK The remainder of the winter passed slowly to those at the trading-post.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “And they will happen,” said James Morris.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading Nobody came near the place but a few friendly and half-starved Indians, who were given the food and shelter they begged.
shriekedadjectiveUS /ʃriːkt/
uttered in a shrill scream as of pain or terror
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading WASHINGTON AT WILL’S CREEK The remainder of the winter passed slowly to those at the trading-post.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WASHINGTON AT WILL’S CREEK The remainder of the winter passed slowly to those at the trading-post.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nobody came near the place but a few friendly and half-starved Indians, who were given the food and shelter they begged.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading WASHINGTON AT WILL’S CREEK The remainder of the winter passed slowly to those at the trading-post.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WASHINGTON AT WILL’S CREEK The remainder of the winter passed slowly to those at the trading-post.
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
trading-post
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WASHINGTON AT WILL’S CREEK The remainder of the winter passed slowly to those at the trading-post.
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 When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading WASHINGTON AT WILL’S CREEK The remainder of the winter passed slowly to those at the trading-post.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Nobody came near the place but a few friendly and half-starved Indians, who were given the food and shelter they begged.
at the time that
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
which person or people
From this reading Nobody came near the place but a few friendly and half-starved Indians, who were given the food and shelter they begged.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “And they will happen,” said James Morris.
WILL'SnounUS /wɪlz/
possessive form of “will” — the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention
From this reading WASHINGTON AT WILL’S CREEK The remainder of the winter passed slowly to those at the trading-post.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading WASHINGTON AT WILL’S CREEK The remainder of the winter passed slowly to those at the trading-post.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
