used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading OVER THE MOUNTAINS When I opened my eyes a young man was surveying the clearing through a chink above the door.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading OVER THE MOUNTAINS When I opened my eyes a young man was surveying the clearing through a chink above the door.
affordedverbUS /əˈfɔːrdəd/
past form of “afford” — be able to spare or give up
From this reading No wonder those first men grew to hate the dark forest and the cover it afforded the red raiders.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading This morning vigilance was customary in every cabin along the frontier and revealed the settler's realization of the ever present danger.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A reconnaissance made through a peephole could at the best satisfy one that no stump in the clearing concealed an Indian.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This morning vigilance was customary in every cabin along the frontier and revealed the settler's realization of the ever present danger.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A reconnaissance made through a peephole could at the best satisfy one that no stump in the clearing concealed an Indian.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading A reconnaissance made through a peephole could at the best satisfy one that no stump in the clearing concealed an Indian.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading This morning vigilance was customary in every cabin along the frontier and revealed the settler's realization of the ever present danger.
chinknounUS /tʃɪŋk/
(ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Chinese descent
From this reading OVER THE MOUNTAINS When I opened my eyes a young man was surveying the clearing through a chink above the door.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading OVER THE MOUNTAINS When I opened my eyes a young man was surveying the clearing through a chink above the door.
not accessible to view
From this reading A reconnaissance made through a peephole could at the best satisfy one that no stump in the clearing concealed an Indian.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A reconnaissance made through a peephole could at the best satisfy one that no stump in the clearing concealed an Indian.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading No wonder those first men grew to hate the dark forest and the cover it afforded the red raiders.
customaryadjectiveUS /ˈkʌstəmeri/
in accordance with convention or custom
From this reading This morning vigilance was customary in every cabin along the frontier and revealed the settler's realization of the ever present danger.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading This morning vigilance was customary in every cabin along the frontier and revealed the settler's realization of the ever present danger.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading No wonder those first men grew to hate the dark forest and the cover it afforded the red raiders.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading OVER THE MOUNTAINS When I opened my eyes a young man was surveying the clearing through a chink above the door.
at any time
From this reading This morning vigilance was customary in every cabin along the frontier and revealed the settler's realization of the ever present danger.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading This morning vigilance was customary in every cabin along the frontier and revealed the settler's realization of the ever present danger.
opinion or judgment
From this reading OVER THE MOUNTAINS When I opened my eyes a young man was surveying the clearing through a chink above the door.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading No wonder those first men grew to hate the dark forest and the cover it afforded the red raiders.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading No wonder those first men grew to hate the dark forest and the cover it afforded the red raiders.
frontiernounUS /frənˈtɪr/
a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country
From this reading This morning vigilance was customary in every cabin along the frontier and revealed the settler's realization of the ever present danger.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading No wonder those first men grew to hate the dark forest and the cover it afforded the red raiders.
guaranteeverbUS /ˌɡerənˈtiː/
give surety or assume responsibility
From this reading It was with this unsatisfactory guarantee that the settler unbarred his door.
the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
From this reading No wonder those first men grew to hate the dark forest and the cover it afforded the red raiders.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was with this unsatisfactory guarantee that the settler unbarred his door.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading OVER THE MOUNTAINS When I opened my eyes a young man was surveying the clearing through a chink above the door.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This morning vigilance was customary in every cabin along the frontier and revealed the settler's realization of the ever present danger.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading A reconnaissance made through a peephole could at the best satisfy one that no stump in the clearing concealed an Indian.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading No wonder those first men grew to hate the dark forest and the cover it afforded the red raiders.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A reconnaissance made through a peephole could at the best satisfy one that no stump in the clearing concealed an Indian.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading OVER THE MOUNTAINS When I opened my eyes a young man was surveying the clearing through a chink above the door.
the force of workers available
From this reading No wonder those first men grew to hate the dark forest and the cover it afforded the red raiders.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading This morning vigilance was customary in every cabin along the frontier and revealed the settler's realization of the ever present danger.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading OVER THE MOUNTAINS When I opened my eyes a young man was surveying the clearing through a chink above the door.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading OVER THE MOUNTAINS When I opened my eyes a young man was surveying the clearing through a chink above the door.
not any; not one
From this reading No wonder those first men grew to hate the dark forest and the cover it afforded the red raiders.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This morning vigilance was customary in every cabin along the frontier and revealed the settler's realization of the ever present danger.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A reconnaissance made through a peephole could at the best satisfy one that no stump in the clearing concealed an Indian.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading OVER THE MOUNTAINS When I opened my eyes a young man was surveying the clearing through a chink above the door.
OVERprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading OVER THE MOUNTAINS When I opened my eyes a young man was surveying the clearing through a chink above the door.
peepholenoun
a hole (in a door or an oven etc) through which you can peep
From this reading A reconnaissance made through a peephole could at the best satisfy one that no stump in the clearing concealed an Indian.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading This morning vigilance was customary in every cabin along the frontier and revealed the settler's realization of the ever present danger.
raidersnounUS /ˈreɪdərz/
plural of “raider” — someone who takes spoils or plunder (as in war)
From this reading No wonder those first men grew to hate the dark forest and the cover it afforded the red raiders.
realizationnounUS /ˈriːləˈzeɪʃən/
coming to understand something clearly and distinctly
From this reading This morning vigilance was customary in every cabin along the frontier and revealed the settler's realization of the ever present danger.
reconnaissancenounUS /riˈkɑːnəsəns/
the act of reconnoitring (especially to gain information about an enemy or potential enemy)
From this reading A reconnaissance made through a peephole could at the best satisfy one that no stump in the clearing concealed an Indian.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading No wonder those first men grew to hate the dark forest and the cover it afforded the red raiders.
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading This morning vigilance was customary in every cabin along the frontier and revealed the settler's realization of the ever present danger.
satisfyverbUS /ˈsætəsfaɪ/
meet the requirements or expectations of
From this reading A reconnaissance made through a peephole could at the best satisfy one that no stump in the clearing concealed an Indian.
settlernounUS /ˈsetələr/
a person who settles in a new colony or moves into new country
From this reading It was with this unsatisfactory guarantee that the settler unbarred his door.
settler's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This morning vigilance was customary in every cabin along the frontier and revealed the settler's realization of the ever present danger.
stumpnounUS /stʌmp/
the base part of a tree that remains standing after the tree has been felled
From this reading A reconnaissance made through a peephole could at the best satisfy one that no stump in the clearing concealed an Indian.
surveyingnounUS /sərˈveɪɪŋ/
the practice of measuring angles and distances on the ground so that they can be accurately plotted on a map
From this reading OVER THE MOUNTAINS When I opened my eyes a young man was surveying the clearing through a chink above the door.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A reconnaissance made through a peephole could at the best satisfy one that no stump in the clearing concealed an Indian.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OVER THE MOUNTAINS When I opened my eyes a young man was surveying the clearing through a chink above the door.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This morning vigilance was customary in every cabin along the frontier and revealed the settler's realization of the ever present danger.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading No wonder those first men grew to hate the dark forest and the cover it afforded the red raiders.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading OVER THE MOUNTAINS When I opened my eyes a young man was surveying the clearing through a chink above the door.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No wonder those first men grew to hate the dark forest and the cover it afforded the red raiders.
unbarredadjective
not firmly fastened or secured
From this reading It was with this unsatisfactory guarantee that the settler unbarred his door.
unsatisfactoryadjectiveUS /ˌʌnsətɪˈsfæktəri/
not giving satisfaction
From this reading It was with this unsatisfactory guarantee that the settler unbarred his door.
vigilancenounUS /ˈvɪdʒələns/
the process of paying close and continuous attention
From this reading This morning vigilance was customary in every cabin along the frontier and revealed the settler's realization of the ever present danger.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading OVER THE MOUNTAINS When I opened my eyes a young man was surveying the clearing through a chink above the door.
at the time that
From this reading OVER THE MOUNTAINS When I opened my eyes a young man was surveying the clearing through a chink above the door.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was with this unsatisfactory guarantee that the settler unbarred his door.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading No wonder those first men grew to hate the dark forest and the cover it afforded the red raiders.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading OVER THE MOUNTAINS When I opened my eyes a young man was surveying the clearing through a chink above the door.
