used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
aggrievedverbUS /əˈɡriːvd/
past form of “aggrieve” — infringe on the rights of
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
antagonistnounUS /ænˈtæɡənəst/
someone who offers opposition
From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
breathlesslyadverbUS /ˈbreθləsli/
in a breathless manner
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the explosion never came.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But the explosion never came.
Clif
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
COURIERnounUS /ˈkɜːriər/
a person who carries a message
From this reading THE CUBAN COURIER.
CUBANadjectiveUS /ˈkjuːbən/
of or relating to or characteristic of Cuba or the people of Cuba
From this reading THE CUBAN COURIER.
deafeningadjectiveUS /ˈdefənɪŋ/
loud enough to cause (temporary) hearing loss
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
at any time
From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading But the explosion never came.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
firingnounUS /ˈfaɪrɪŋ/
the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading But the explosion never came.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
perplexedadjectiveUS /pərˈplekst/
full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment
From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
personallyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrsənəli/
as yourself
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
rampartnounUS /ˈræmpɑːrt/
an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
shellnounUS /ʃel/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
transport commercially
From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
showersnounUS /ˈʃaʊərz/
plural of “shower” — a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CUBAN COURIER.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
unconscionableadjectiveUS /ənˈkɑːnʃənəbəl/
lacking a conscience
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
vantagenounUS /ˈvæntədʒ/
place or situation affording some advantage (especially a comprehensive view or commanding perspective)
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
at the time that
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
