used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
abyssnounUS /əˈbɪs/
a bottomless gulf or pit; any unfathomable (or apparently unfathomable) cavity or chasm or void extending below (often used figuratively)
From this reading A yawning abyss, with certain and terrible death at the bottom, reeking with half-decayed bodies of horses and riders!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A yawning abyss, with certain and terrible death at the bottom, reeking with half-decayed bodies of horses and riders!
see with attention
From this reading Evening closed in, and he strained his eyes to see if he could behold the top of the mountain.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Then he gazed beneath him, and what a sight met his eyes!
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
bleedingnounUS /ˈbliːdɪŋ/
the flow of blood from a ruptured blood vessel
From this reading His feet were torn and bleeding, and he could only hold on now with his hands.
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading A yawning abyss, with certain and terrible death at the bottom, reeking with half-decayed bodies of horses and riders!
the lower side of anything
From this reading A yawning abyss, with certain and terrible death at the bottom, reeking with half-decayed bodies of horses and riders!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading A yawning abyss, with certain and terrible death at the bottom, reeking with half-decayed bodies of horses and riders!
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Evening closed in, and he strained his eyes to see if he could behold the top of the mountain.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading His feet were torn and bleeding, and he could only hold on now with his hands.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading A yawning abyss, with certain and terrible death at the bottom, reeking with half-decayed bodies of horses and riders!
dewnounUS /duː/
water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
let fall to the ground
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Evening closed in, and he strained his eyes to see if he could behold the top of the mountain.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Evening closed in, and he strained his eyes to see if he could behold the top of the mountain.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading His feet were torn and bleeding, and he could only hold on now with his hands.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Then he gazed beneath him, and what a sight met his eyes!
half-decayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A yawning abyss, with certain and terrible death at the bottom, reeking with half-decayed bodies of horses and riders!
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading His feet were torn and bleeding, and he could only hold on now with his hands.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then he gazed beneath him, and what a sight met his eyes!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading His feet were torn and bleeding, and he could only hold on now with his hands.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading A yawning abyss, with certain and terrible death at the bottom, reeking with half-decayed bodies of horses and riders!
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Evening closed in, and he strained his eyes to see if he could behold the top of the mountain.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Evening closed in, and he strained his eyes to see if he could behold the top of the mountain.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Then he gazed beneath him, and what a sight met his eyes!
moistenedverbUS /ˈmɔɪsənd/
past form of “moisten” — make moist
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading Evening closed in, and he strained his eyes to see if he could behold the top of the mountain.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading His feet were torn and bleeding, and he could only hold on now with his hands.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His feet were torn and bleeding, and he could only hold on now with his hands.
and nothing more
From this reading His feet were torn and bleeding, and he could only hold on now with his hands.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
reekingadjectiveUS /ˈriːkɪŋ/
wet with secreted or exuded moisture such as sweat or tears
From this reading A yawning abyss, with certain and terrible death at the bottom, reeking with half-decayed bodies of horses and riders!
ridersnounUS /ˈraɪdərz/
plural of “rider” — a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading A yawning abyss, with certain and terrible death at the bottom, reeking with half-decayed bodies of horses and riders!
past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Evening closed in, and he strained his eyes to see if he could behold the top of the mountain.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Then he gazed beneath him, and what a sight met his eyes!
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading Evening closed in, and he strained his eyes to see if he could behold the top of the mountain.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading A yawning abyss, with certain and terrible death at the bottom, reeking with half-decayed bodies of horses and riders!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he gazed beneath him, and what a sight met his eyes!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Evening closed in, and he strained his eyes to see if he could behold the top of the mountain.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Evening closed in, and he strained his eyes to see if he could behold the top of the mountain.
having edges that are jagged from injury
From this reading His feet were torn and bleeding, and he could only hold on now with his hands.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His feet were torn and bleeding, and he could only hold on now with his hands.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Then he gazed beneath him, and what a sight met his eyes!
in the company of; together with
From this reading His feet were torn and bleeding, and he could only hold on now with his hands.
yawningadjectiveUS /ˈjɔːnɪŋ/
gaping open as if threatening to engulf someone or something
From this reading A yawning abyss, with certain and terrible death at the bottom, reeking with half-decayed bodies of horses and riders!
