used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
ant-hills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading We asked our friend what he did at the time.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We asked our friend what he did at the time.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
plural of “case” — an occurrence of something
From this reading Several similar cases occurred during our stay in the upland country.
teach and supervise (someone); act as a trainer or coach (to), as in sports
From this reading A coach with four passengers was swept away in a moment while fording a swelling river at night, the driver only escaping.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Several similar cases occurred during our stay in the upland country.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading We asked our friend what he did at the time.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
the operator of a motor vehicle
From this reading A coach with four passengers was swept away in a moment while fording a swelling river at night, the driver only escaping.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Several similar cases occurred during our stay in the upland country.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
escapingverbUS /ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “escape” — run away from confinement
From this reading A coach with four passengers was swept away in a moment while fording a swelling river at night, the driver only escaping.
give expression to
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
fordingnoun
the act of crossing a stream or river by wading or in a car or on a horse
From this reading A coach with four passengers was swept away in a moment while fording a swelling river at night, the driver only escaping.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading A coach with four passengers was swept away in a moment while fording a swelling river at night, the driver only escaping.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading We asked our friend what he did at the time.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We asked our friend what he did at the time.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
and nothing more
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
the quality of being just or fair
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
a particular point in time
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
NiagaranounUS /naɪˈæɡrə/
waterfall in Canada is the Horseshoe Falls; in the United States it is the American Falls
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A coach with four passengers was swept away in a moment while fording a swelling river at night, the driver only escaping.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading Several similar cases occurred during our stay in the upland country.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
and nothing more
From this reading A coach with four passengers was swept away in a moment while fording a swelling river at night, the driver only escaping.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We asked our friend what he did at the time.
plural of “passenger” — a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading A coach with four passengers was swept away in a moment while fording a swelling river at night, the driver only escaping.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
resultsnounUS /rɪˈzʌlts/
plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading A coach with four passengers was swept away in a moment while fording a swelling river at night, the driver only escaping.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
uttered with a trill
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Several similar cases occurred during our stay in the upland country.
marked by correspondence or resemblance
From this reading Several similar cases occurred during our stay in the upland country.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Several similar cases occurred during our stay in the upland country.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
sweepingadjectiveUS /ˈswiːpɪŋ/
taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
swellingnounUS /ˈswelɪŋ/
an abnormal protuberance or localized enlargement
From this reading A coach with four passengers was swept away in a moment while fording a swelling river at night, the driver only escaping.
possessing sweep
From this reading A coach with four passengers was swept away in a moment while fording a swelling river at night, the driver only escaping.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading We asked our friend what he did at the time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
uplandadjectiveUS /ˈʌplənd/
used of high or hilly country
From this reading Several similar cases occurred during our stay in the upland country.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A coach with four passengers was swept away in a moment while fording a swelling river at night, the driver only escaping.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We asked our friend what he did at the time.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading We asked our friend what he did at the time.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading A coach with four passengers was swept away in a moment while fording a swelling river at night, the driver only escaping.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
in the company of; together with
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
the words that are spoken
From this reading "Why," said he, "we tried to express the situation in words, but we could not do it justice, so we just sat down on two ant-hills, laughing at one another and our luck."
a late time of life
From this reading Suddenly, as they reached the middle, the waters came rolling down with a roar like Niagara, sweeping away the results of two years' labour in a moment; they barely escaped with their lives.
