used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had been challenged by a small band of Indians when they first entered the narrow pass between the mountains two hours before.
anew
From this reading Now again three dark-skinned sentinels suddenly barred their way with a gruff command which the white men did not understand.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading WHERE GOLD WAS AS DROSS.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading They had been challenged by a small band of Indians when they first entered the narrow pass between the mountains two hours before.
barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading Now again three dark-skinned sentinels suddenly barred their way with a gruff command which the white men did not understand.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They had been challenged by a small band of Indians when they first entered the narrow pass between the mountains two hours before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading They had been challenged by a small band of Indians when they first entered the narrow pass between the mountains two hours before.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading They had been challenged by a small band of Indians when they first entered the narrow pass between the mountains two hours before.
the lower side of anything
From this reading It was dusk when the six horsemen, descending the still tortuous path, reached the bottom of the mountain-guarded valley.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They had been challenged by a small band of Indians when they first entered the narrow pass between the mountains two hours before.
Casimiro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Casimiro responded, giving what was probably a countersign.
challengedverbUS /ˈtʃæləndʒd/
past form of “challenge” — take exception to
From this reading They had been challenged by a small band of Indians when they first entered the narrow pass between the mountains two hours before.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading Now again three dark-skinned sentinels suddenly barred their way with a gruff command which the white men did not understand.
countersignnoun
a secret word or phrase known only to a restricted group
From this reading Casimiro responded, giving what was probably a countersign.
dark-skinnedadjective
naturally having skin of a dark color
From this reading Now again three dark-skinned sentinels suddenly barred their way with a gruff command which the white men did not understand.
descendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsendɪŋ/
coming down or downward
From this reading It was dusk when the six horsemen, descending the still tortuous path, reached the bottom of the mountain-guarded valley.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Now again three dark-skinned sentinels suddenly barred their way with a gruff command which the white men did not understand.
DROSSnounUS /drɔːs/
worthless or dangerous material that should be removed
From this reading WHERE GOLD WAS AS DROSS.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading It was dusk when the six horsemen, descending the still tortuous path, reached the bottom of the mountain-guarded valley.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading They had been challenged by a small band of Indians when they first entered the narrow pass between the mountains two hours before.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading They had been challenged by a small band of Indians when they first entered the narrow pass between the mountains two hours before.
the act of giving
From this reading Casimiro responded, giving what was probably a countersign.
coins made of gold
From this reading WHERE GOLD WAS AS DROSS.
gruffadjectiveUS /ɡrʌf/
brusque and surly and forbidding
From this reading Now again three dark-skinned sentinels suddenly barred their way with a gruff command which the white men did not understand.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had been challenged by a small band of Indians when they first entered the narrow pass between the mountains two hours before.
horsemennounUS /ˈhɔːrsmən/
plural of “horseman” — a man skilled in equitation
From this reading It was dusk when the six horsemen, descending the still tortuous path, reached the bottom of the mountain-guarded valley.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading They had been challenged by a small band of Indians when they first entered the narrow pass between the mountains two hours before.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading They had been challenged by a small band of Indians when they first entered the narrow pass between the mountains two hours before.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was dusk when the six horsemen, descending the still tortuous path, reached the bottom of the mountain-guarded valley.
the force of workers available
From this reading Now again three dark-skinned sentinels suddenly barred their way with a gruff command which the white men did not understand.
mountain-guarded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dusk when the six horsemen, descending the still tortuous path, reached the bottom of the mountain-guarded valley.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading They had been challenged by a small band of Indians when they first entered the narrow pass between the mountains two hours before.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading They had been challenged by a small band of Indians when they first entered the narrow pass between the mountains two hours before.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Now again three dark-skinned sentinels suddenly barred their way with a gruff command which the white men did not understand.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now again three dark-skinned sentinels suddenly barred their way with a gruff command which the white men did not understand.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was dusk when the six horsemen, descending the still tortuous path, reached the bottom of the mountain-guarded valley.
go across or through
From this reading They had been challenged by a small band of Indians when they first entered the narrow pass between the mountains two hours before.
a course of conduct
From this reading It was dusk when the six horsemen, descending the still tortuous path, reached the bottom of the mountain-guarded valley.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Casimiro responded, giving what was probably a countersign.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading It was dusk when the six horsemen, descending the still tortuous path, reached the bottom of the mountain-guarded valley.
past form of “respond” — show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading Casimiro responded, giving what was probably a countersign.
sentinelsnounUS /ˈsentənəlz/
plural of “sentinel” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading Now again three dark-skinned sentinels suddenly barred their way with a gruff command which the white men did not understand.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading It was dusk when the six horsemen, descending the still tortuous path, reached the bottom of the mountain-guarded valley.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They had been challenged by a small band of Indians when they first entered the narrow pass between the mountains two hours before.
not in physical motion
From this reading It was dusk when the six horsemen, descending the still tortuous path, reached the bottom of the mountain-guarded valley.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Now again three dark-skinned sentinels suddenly barred their way with a gruff command which the white men did not understand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was dusk when the six horsemen, descending the still tortuous path, reached the bottom of the mountain-guarded valley.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Now again three dark-skinned sentinels suddenly barred their way with a gruff command which the white men did not understand.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had been challenged by a small band of Indians when they first entered the narrow pass between the mountains two hours before.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Now again three dark-skinned sentinels suddenly barred their way with a gruff command which the white men did not understand.
tortuousadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrtʃəwəs/
highly complex or intricate and occasionally devious
From this reading It was dusk when the six horsemen, descending the still tortuous path, reached the bottom of the mountain-guarded valley.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading They had been challenged by a small band of Indians when they first entered the narrow pass between the mountains two hours before.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading Now again three dark-skinned sentinels suddenly barred their way with a gruff command which the white men did not understand.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading It was dusk when the six horsemen, descending the still tortuous path, reached the bottom of the mountain-guarded valley.
WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHERE GOLD WAS AS DROSS.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Now again three dark-skinned sentinels suddenly barred their way with a gruff command which the white men did not understand.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Casimiro responded, giving what was probably a countersign.
at the time that
From this reading It was dusk when the six horsemen, descending the still tortuous path, reached the bottom of the mountain-guarded valley.
in or at the place that
From this reading WHERE GOLD WAS AS DROSS.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Now again three dark-skinned sentinels suddenly barred their way with a gruff command which the white men did not understand.
a Caucasian
From this reading Now again three dark-skinned sentinels suddenly barred their way with a gruff command which the white men did not understand.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now again three dark-skinned sentinels suddenly barred their way with a gruff command which the white men did not understand.
