used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
(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 Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Brown, the spell of battle upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of hearty welcome.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But Winston had vanished in the green underbrush as completely as though he had dropped into the sea.
on or to one side
From this reading Brown, the spell of battle upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of hearty welcome.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
barkingverbUS /ˈbɑːrkɪŋ/
-ing form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading Brown, the spell of battle upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of hearty welcome.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading When he finally emerged it was behind the protecting chaparral, his clothing rags, his breathing the sobs of utter exhaustion.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation
From this reading When he finally emerged it was behind the protecting chaparral, his clothing rags, his breathing the sobs of utter exhaustion.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Winston had vanished in the green underbrush as completely as though he had dropped into the sea.
chaparralnounUS /ˌʃæpərˈæl/
dense vegetation consisting of stunted trees or bushes
From this reading When he finally emerged it was behind the protecting chaparral, his clothing rags, his breathing the sobs of utter exhaustion.
clothingnounUS /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/
a covering designed to be worn on a person's body
From this reading When he finally emerged it was behind the protecting chaparral, his clothing rags, his breathing the sobs of utter exhaustion.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading But Winston had vanished in the green underbrush as completely as though he had dropped into the sea.
a body serving in an administrative capacity
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
cursesnounUS /ˈkɜːrsɪz/
plural of “curse” — profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading But Winston had vanished in the green underbrush as completely as though he had dropped into the sea.
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
emergedverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒd/
past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading When he finally emerged it was behind the protecting chaparral, his clothing rags, his breathing the sobs of utter exhaustion.
enthusiasticallyadverbUS /ɪnˌθuːziˈæstɪkli/
with enthusiasm; in an enthusiastic manner
From this reading Brown, the spell of battle upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of hearty welcome.
exhaustionnounUS /ɪɡˈzɔːstʃən/
extreme fatigue
From this reading When he finally emerged it was behind the protecting chaparral, his clothing rags, his breathing the sobs of utter exhaustion.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Brown, the spell of battle upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of hearty welcome.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Brown, the spell of battle upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of hearty welcome.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading When he finally emerged it was behind the protecting chaparral, his clothing rags, his breathing the sobs of utter exhaustion.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Brown, the spell of battle upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of hearty welcome.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading But Winston had vanished in the green underbrush as completely as though he had dropped into the sea.
growlnounUS /ɡraʊl/
the sound of growling (as made by animals)
From this reading Brown, the spell of battle upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of hearty welcome.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But Winston had vanished in the green underbrush as completely as though he had dropped into the sea.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But Winston had vanished in the green underbrush as completely as though he had dropped into the sea.
heartyadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrti/
showing warm and heartfelt friendliness
From this reading Brown, the spell of battle upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of hearty welcome.
HicksnounUS /hɪks/
plural of “hick” — a person who is not very intelligent or interested in culture
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Brown, the spell of battle upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of hearty welcome.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When he finally emerged it was behind the protecting chaparral, his clothing rags, his breathing the sobs of utter exhaustion.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But Winston had vanished in the green underbrush as completely as though he had dropped into the sea.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
any art that invokes supernatural powers
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
the force of workers available
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
a particular point in time
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Brown, the spell of battle upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of hearty welcome.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
pouringadjectiveUS /ˈpɔːrɪŋ/
flowing profusely
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
protectingadjectiveUS /prəˈtektɪŋ/
shielding (or designed to shield) against harm or discomfort
From this reading When he finally emerged it was behind the protecting chaparral, his clothing rags, his breathing the sobs of utter exhaustion.
ragsnounUS /ræɡz/
plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading When he finally emerged it was behind the protecting chaparral, his clothing rags, his breathing the sobs of utter exhaustion.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
rifle-barrel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brown, the spell of battle upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of hearty welcome.
riflesnounUS /ˈraɪfəlz/
plural of “rifle” — a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading But Winston had vanished in the green underbrush as completely as though he had dropped into the sea.
shaft-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
sobsnounUS /sɑːbz/
plural of “sob” — a dyspneic condition
From this reading When he finally emerged it was behind the protecting chaparral, his clothing rags, his breathing the sobs of utter exhaustion.
spatverbUS /spæt/
come down like raindrops
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of
From this reading Brown, the spell of battle upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of hearty welcome.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Brown, the spell of battle upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of hearty welcome.
moving very fast
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading But Winston had vanished in the green underbrush as completely as though he had dropped into the sea.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
underbrushnounUS /ˈʌndərbrʌʃ/
the brush (small trees and bushes and ferns etc.) growing beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
From this reading But Winston had vanished in the green underbrush as completely as though he had dropped into the sea.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Brown, the spell of battle upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of hearty welcome.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading When he finally emerged it was behind the protecting chaparral, his clothing rags, his breathing the sobs of utter exhaustion.
utteringverbUS /ˈʌtərɪŋ/
-ing form of “utter” — articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading Brown, the spell of battle upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of hearty welcome.
having passed out of existence
From this reading But Winston had vanished in the green underbrush as completely as though he had dropped into the sea.
viciouslyadverbUS /ˈvɪʃəsli/
in a vicious manner
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When he finally emerged it was behind the protecting chaparral, his clothing rags, his breathing the sobs of utter exhaustion.
wastedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪstɪd/
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
accept gladly
From this reading Brown, the spell of battle upon him, never glanced aside, his eyes along the brown rifle-barrel; but Hicks sprang enthusiastically to his feet, uttering a growl of hearty welcome.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A COUNCIL OF WAR In the magic of a moment a dozen angry men were pouring from the shaft-house, their guns barking viciously between their curses.
at the time that
From this reading When he finally emerged it was behind the protecting chaparral, his clothing rags, his breathing the sobs of utter exhaustion.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Beyond, at the edge of their dark cover, Hicks and Brown rose eagerly to their knees, while their ready rifles spat swift return fire, not all of it wasted.
Winston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Winston had vanished in the green underbrush as completely as though he had dropped into the sea.
