used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before.
ABORIGINALadjectiveUS /ˌæbərˈɪdʒənəl/
characteristic of or relating to people inhabiting a region from the beginning
From this reading ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before.
(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 Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing.
from appearances alone
From this reading The reports were apparently a half-mile to the northwest.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Jethro Mix snatched up his gun with a gasp and held his breath.
broodingnounUS /ˈbruːdɪŋ/
sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
From this reading ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Every one of the sentinels listened closely, but nothing further reached them.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading Every one of the sentinels listened closely, but nothing further reached them.
CUNNINGadjectiveUS /ˈkʌnɪŋ/
attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness
From this reading ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every one of the sentinels listened closely, but nothing further reached them.
firingnounUS /ˈfaɪrɪŋ/
the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
From this reading ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Every one of the sentinels listened closely, but nothing further reached them.
gaspnounUS /ɡæsp/
a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open
From this reading Jethro Mix snatched up his gun with a gasp and held his breath.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Jethro Mix snatched up his gun with a gasp and held his breath.
half-mile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reports were apparently a half-mile to the northwest.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Jethro Mix snatched up his gun with a gasp and held his breath.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jethro Mix snatched up his gun with a gasp and held his breath.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before.
Jethro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jethro Mix snatched up his gun with a gasp and held his breath.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading Every one of the sentinels listened closely, but nothing further reached them.
MixverbUS /mɪks/
mix together different elements
From this reading Jethro Mix snatched up his gun with a gasp and held his breath.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before.
northwestnounUS /ˌnɔːrˈθwest/
the northwestern region of the United States
From this reading The reports were apparently a half-mile to the northwest.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Every one of the sentinels listened closely, but nothing further reached them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Every one of the sentinels listened closely, but nothing further reached them.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Every one of the sentinels listened closely, but nothing further reached them.
reportsnounUS /rɪˈpɔːrts/
plural of “report” — a written document describing the findings of some individual or group
From this reading The reports were apparently a half-mile to the northwest.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing.
sentinelsnounUS /ˈsentənəlz/
plural of “sentinel” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading Every one of the sentinels listened closely, but nothing further reached them.
shotsnounUS /ʃɑːts/
plural of “shot” — the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before.
snatchedverbUS /snætʃt/
past form of “snatch” — to grasp hastily or eagerly
From this reading Jethro Mix snatched up his gun with a gasp and held his breath.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing.
successionnounUS /səkˈseʃən/
a following of one thing after another in time
From this reading Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Every one of the sentinels listened closely, but nothing further reached them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The reports were apparently a half-mile to the northwest.
tomblike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Jethro Mix snatched up his gun with a gasp and held his breath.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Jethro Mix snatched up his gun with a gasp and held his breath.
